The Fourth Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation sector was held on 11 September 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with participation of delegates from all member States.

The expert group observed the Signing Ceremony of the “Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the BIMSTEC Secretariat for establishing BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka”.

The expert group agreed to expedite implementation of the outstanding activities under the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on STI (2023-2027) and complete them by 2027; convene the first BIMSTEC Start-up Conclave virtually in the first half of December 2026; and establish two thematic groups on Food Security and Vector-Borne Disease Control following the 2nd STI Forum and Boot Camp to develop proposals for capacity building, technology and knowledge exchange and potential joint projects among BIMSTEC member States.