Overview of the meeting
The event took place on the morning of October 14, 2026, in the coastal city of Danang, as part of the 90th ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation Meeting (COSTI-90), hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Viet Nam.
Serving as an advisory body to COSTI, the BAC plays a key role in guiding and fostering cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI) across ASEAN.
Key advisory areas include: formulating and implementing APASTI; managing and utilizing the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF); mobilizing resources from dialogue partners; and promoting public-private partnerships to translate STI outcomes into tangible socio-economic benefits.
Chaired by the BAC Chairmanship of Indonesia, BAC-21 brought together BAC members from ASEAN member states, representatives from the private sector, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
During the meeting, the ASEAN Secretariat presented updates on the outcomes of related high-level meetings and reviewed the progress made on recommendations put forward at BAC-20. Delegates closely examined the funding status for ASEAN STI cooperation to ensure that collaborative programs are adequately equipped for effective execution.
Delegates pose for a group photo
Participants also evaluated the implementation progress of the 2026 Priority Economic Deliverables and discussed preparations for the 2027 Annual Milestone Deliverables, providing a foundation for subsequent recommendations to COSTI. These initiatives focus primarily on space cooperation, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and technology transfer. Additionally, delegates deliberated on monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for APASTI 2026–2035 to ensure the plan is executed substantively with measurable outcomes.
The discussion outcomes and recommendations from BAC-21 will be submitted to the COSTI-90 Plenary Session for review and decision-making, helping shape future priorities and enhance the efficiency of ASEAN STI cooperation in the new period.
Through BAC-21, recommendations regarding resource mobilization, priority initiative execution, and APASTI evaluation will continue to be refined and submitted to COSTI. This effort aims to advance ASEAN STI cooperation toward practical, high-impact results, while strengthening resource integration, leveraging the strengths of member states and partners, and translating commitments into concrete achievements that support sustainable development and regional competitiveness./.
