Sector : Science, Technology and Innovation
Lead Country : Sri Lanka
 

Background

Technology was identified as one of the six areas of cooperation within BIMSTEC during the Second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in Dhaka on 19 December 1998.

The 3rd Session of the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) held on 4-5 July 2000 in New Delhi, India agreed that technology exchanges were an important aspect of BIMST-EC activity, and since technology covered a very wide area, member countries could identify selected technologies that they could share with and technologies that they sought from other BIMST-EC countries. After that, based on such information, India would organize a meeting of experts from the Ministries of Science and Technology from the member countries. It was agreed that private sector representatives could also participate in this meeting which would be able to get a full overview of cooperation in the technology sector, and then identify selecting possibilities of technology exchange and cooperation, including information technology, biotechnology etc.

The 1st BIMSTEC Summit held on 31 July 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand agreed to enhance technical cooperation aimed at capacity building and recognize the potential for public and private organizations to expand existing cooperation in this area.

The 9th SOM held in 2005 in Dhaka, Bangladesh encouraged follow-up of the outcome of the 2002 Expert Group Meeting held in Sri Lanka in particular exploring project cooperation in agro-based technologies, food processing, herbal products, biotechnology, ICT sector etc. It also urged member countries to expedite implementation of proposed priority projects under various sectors and related sub-sectors through agreed funding and monitoring mechanisms.

The 11th SOM held in 2006 noted the proposal for establishing a BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Exchange Facility (TTF) and welcomed Sri Lanka’s offer to circulate a concept paper and organize an Expert Group meeting in this regard which will also discuss database on technical capabilities, training programmes and exchange of experts.

Subsequently, at the 9th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in 2006, the Ministers also welcomed the proposal to set up a Technology Transfer Exchange Facility. It was agreed that Sri Lanka will circulate a concept paper among member countries prior to the Expert Group Meeting.

A key component of cooperation in the Technology sub-sector is the establishment of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility. Based on a decision taken at the Second BIMSTEC Summit (New Delhi, 13 November 2008) to establish a BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka to further the transfer of technologies, particularly those appropriate for micro, small and medium scale enterprises, a BIMSTEC Expert Group on the Establishment of the TTF was formed to finalize the text of a Memorandum of Association (MoA) for the purpose.  

Accordingly, the 1st Meeting of the Expert Group was held on 27-28 March 2009 which discussed the Draft Concept Paper on Technology Transfer Facility prepared by Sri Lanka. The Meeting also decided the project title in the concept paper as “Establishment of the BIMSTEC Centre for Technology Transfer”.

The 2nd BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC TTF held on 9-10 May 2011 further discussed and finalized the Concept Paper. Subsequently, the 3rd and 4th Meetings of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on the Establishment of BIMSTEC TTF were held in 2015 and 2017 to finalize the MoA with a view to expedite the setting up of the BIMSTEC Centre for Technology Transfer in Colombo.

The 4th BIMSTEC Summit held on 30-31 August 2018 in Kathmandu, Nepal agreed to enhance cooperation for development, access and sharing of affordable technologies - including for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for promoting sustainable development across sectors and welcomed the efforts of the member States towards the signing of the MoA on the Establishment of BIMSTEC TTF in Sri Lanka.

At the Seventeenth session of the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Ministers recommended signing the MoA on the establishment of the BIMSTEC TTF during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit. The Ministers also encouraged strengthening cooperation in the areas of Science, Technology and Innovation by using the platform of the BIMSTEC TTF to be established in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the MoA on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC TTF was signed during the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held on 30 March 2022 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and currently awaits completion of necessary formalities by member States for its entry into force.

The TTF is envisaged to facilitate the transfer of technologies among the BIMSTEC member States inter alia in the priority areas as agreed upon by the member States: Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Information and Communication Technology, Space technology applications, Agriculture technology, Food Processing technology, Pharmaceutical technology, Automation, New and renewable energy technology, Oceanography, Nuclear Technology Applications, E-waste and solid waste management technology, Health technologies, Technologies pertinent to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

The Seventeenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, also recommended the rationalization and reorganization of sectors and sub-sectors of BIMSTEC to the 5th BIMSTEC Summit for adoption. Accordingly, the reconstituted sectors and sub-sectors of cooperation were adopted in the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit held on 30 March 2022 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector was established, and Technology, Health and Human Resource Development were added as the sub-sectors under the STI sector with Sri Lanka as the Lead Country. 

Institutional Mechanism

Sub-Sector: Technology  

Technology was identified as one of the six areas of cooperation within BIMSTEC during the Second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in Dhaka on 19 December 1998. Since the reorganization of areas of cooperation in March 2022, ‘Technology’ has been included as a sub-Sector under ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Sector’.

At the 17th session of the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, agreed to establish an Expert Group on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation to prepare a Plan of Action/Work Programme to strengthen cooperation in Technology.

Developments

Accordingly, the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology and Innovation was set up and its 1st Meeting was held virtually on 21 June 2023 in Colombo. The Meeting finalized the BIMSTEC Plan of Action (PoA) on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Expert Group on STI cooperation.

The 2nd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation was convened in-person in Colombo on 25-26 July 2024. The Meeting updated the draft BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (2023-2027) and revised the ToR of the Expert Group.

Setting up the BIMSTEC TTF is also a goal under the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on STI. Once the MoA enters into force, the Governing Board of the TTF will be vested with the overall activities of the TTF.
 

Sub-Sector: Health  

Background

The First BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand on 31 July 2004, agreed to coordinate efforts to address, as a matter of priority, transactional issues that threaten the economic and social progress of peoples of the BIMSTEC region, including HIV/AIDS and other threats to public health such as malaria, tuberculosis, and polio; and encouraged active cooperation among concerned agencies, including through the exchange of information, sharing of experiences and other concrete programmes.

Health was included as an area of BIMSTEC cooperation in 2005. The initial focus of BIMSTEC cooperation in health was on forging cooperation in traditional medicine. The BIMSTEC Network of National Centres of Coordination in Traditional Medicine (BNNCCTM) was established in 2006 to promote sharing of experience and scientific information and other forms of cooperation among the member States. Thailand, as the Lead Country for the Public Health Sector at the time, served as the Secretariat of the Network.

The BIMSTEC Network of National Centers of Coordination in Traditional Medicine (BNNCCTM) was set up to promote the sharing of experience and scientific information and other forms of cooperation. The First meeting of the BNNCCTM was held on 29-31 August 2006, identified areas and forms of cooperation. The BNNCCTM has held four meetings, three hosted by Thailand with the fourth meeting of BNCCTM held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The 2nd BNNCCTM Meeting held in 2010, considered four proposals of the areas of cooperation proposed by the member States as a short technical paper describing the rationale for the proposed areas of cooperation and specific decision point.

The 3rd BNNCCTM Meeting held in 2015 delivered their progress reports under each area of cooperation. The Meeting finalized the Terms of Reference on the establishment of the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM) and submitted it to the 17th Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM). The Meeting also finalized the Draft Work Plan for the BTFTM for the period 2015-2020.

The BTFTM is the only platform in BIMSTEC for discussion and cooperation among the member States on all matters pertaining to Traditional Medicine. For deepening cooperation in the sector, the 17th SOM held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 07 February 2017, endorsed the decision on the establishment of the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine and its Terms of Reference.

The 4th Meeting of the BNNCCTM held on 16-17 June 2019, deliberated on their role in dealing with traditional medicine under BIMSTEC. The BTFTM is composed of officials from the BNNCCTM or related officers of each member State, practitioners, academics, or researchers on Traditional Medicine in the member States upon nomination by the respective government. So, the Meeting recommended discontinuing BNNCCTM for the overlapping role of BNNCCTM and BTFTM.

Later in 2017, the BTFTM was established as a forum for the development of Traditional Medicine in the region. The key strategy of BTFTM is to facilitate the collaboration and exchange of knowledge and expertise among member States in the areas of traditional medicine, including research and development, regulation, education, and protection of traditional medicine knowledge and genetic resources.

The 1st Meeting of the BTFTM was initiated and hosted by India in New Delhi on 24-25 October 2017, and the consecutive meetings of BTFTM were subsequently held in 2019 and 2020, by Myanmar and Nepal. During the 3rd Meeting of BTFTM, the Task Force finalized the Draft Plan of Action for Development of Traditional Medicine. This Plan of Action is now the main document that the Task Force tracks for progress in the subsequent meetings.

Following the reorganization of Sectors and Sub-sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation in 2022, Sri Lanka became the new lead country for ‘Health’ Sub-sector.

The 1st Meeting of the BTFTM was initiated and hosted by India in New Delhi on 24-25 October 2017, and the consecutive meetings of BTFTM were subsequently held in 2019 and 2020, by Myanmar and Nepal. During the 3rd Meeting of BTFTM, the Task Force finalized the Draft Plan of Action for Development of Traditional Medicine. This Plan of Action is now the main document that the Task Force tracks for progress in the subsequent meetings. 

Following the reorganization of Sectors and Sub-sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation in 2022, Sri Lanka became the new lead country for ‘Health’ Sub-sector.

Developments in Health

As decided during the 17th session of the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Ministers agreed to establish an Expert Group on Public Health to prepare a Plan of Action/Work Programme to strengthen cooperation.

Accordingly, the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH) was established, and its 1st Meeting convened in hybrid mode in Colombo on 26-27 July 2023 finalized the Draft BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Public Health 2023-2025 along with the Draft Terms of Reference of the Expert Group. 
 

Developments in Traditional Medicine

The 4th Meeting of BTFTM was held virtually on 20 January 2022 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reviewing its Plan of Action, the Task Force took several decisions to forge closer cooperation in the field of traditional medicine.

The 5th Meeting of BTFTM was held on 26-27 June 2023 in Nonthaburi, Thailand reviewed the implementation of the ‘BIMSTEC Plan of Action for Development of Traditional Medicine’. The Meeting was followed by a symposium on ‘Best Practices in Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States’ on 28 June 2023. Similarly, a report on “Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report” was published.

As per the decision taken during the 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine held in Nonthaburi, Thailand in 2023, on 13 February 2024, a virtual meeting of the Expert Group constituted to conduct a systematic review of research on traditional medicine used in COVID-19 and Diabetes was held.

The 6th Meeting of the BTFTM held virtually on 28 November 2024, reviewed the implementation of activities under the Plan of Action for Development of Traditional Medicine finalized in 2020.

The Meeting agreed that India would develop a BIMSTEC Traditional Medicine (TM) Portal through which traditional medicine knowledge and information will be shared among member States.

Further, Sri Lanka proposed to host the 2nd Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK), Genetic Resources (GR) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in 2025, where member States would discuss their respective Concept Papers focusing on formulating regional strategy for the protection of GR, TMK and IPR.

Sub-Sector: Human Resource Development

Background

The 1st BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 31 July 2004 agreed to focus on specific areas of cooperation, including human resource development.

The 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 30-31 August 2018 agreed to focus cooperation on human resources development and education for the advancement of technology in the region, keeping in mind the need to address the disruptive impacts of technology.

At the Seventeenth Session of the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Ministers stressed the need for regional collaboration to develop the skills of the vast human resources in the region through education, training and re-training, and to enhance access to employment opportunities, with particular focus on millions of workers in the informal sector as well as returnee migrant workers who have lost their jobs due to the situation arising from COVID 19. The Meeting also agreed to establish an Expert Group on Human Resource Development to deal with the activities under this Sub-Sector including development of a Plan of Action/Work Programme in this regard. 

Human Resource Development was established as the sub-sector under Science, Technology, and Innovation Sector during the reorganization of areas of cooperation at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held on 30 March 2022, with Sri Lanka as the Lead member State.

Developments 

The Expert Group on Human Resource Development was constituted in November 2022 to examine the scope of collaboration in this sub-Sector and to develop a Plan of Action/ Work Programme.

Accordingly, the Expert Group on Human Resource Development was formed, and held its 1st Meeting virtually on 21-22 August 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Meeting finalized the BIMSTEC Plan of Action (PoA) on Human Resource Development (2024-2029) and the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Expert Group. 

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