Phnom Penh: On June 26, 2025, ASEAN countries approved a revamp of science and technology governance by launching the region’s first joint US$1.2 billion Artificial Intelligence Initiative and Supercomputing Hub to address rapidly evolving economic and climate change.
These initiatives were formally launched in a joint press release at the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22), led by Laos, under the theme “Advancing the ASEAN Action Plan on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026-2035”.
Speaking at the summit, Minister of Science and Technology Hem Vandy and Cambodian Innovation in ASEAN, Dr. Hul Siengheng, Undersecretary of State and President of COSTI Cambodia, emphasized that cross-border cooperation is no longer an option.
He said, “Science, technology and innovation are not only tools for development, but also strategic catalysts for resilience, sustainability and long-term competitiveness. In this uncertain and rapidly changing technological environment, ASEAN must continue to use STI as a common force for common goals.”
To bridge the gap between regional policies and practical implementation, Hul Sieng Heng proposed the establishment of a “Permanent Ministerial Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation” as a side event for future AMMSTI Summits, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, academia and investors to translate shared aspirations into concrete results and guide stronger action for ASEAN.
At the Summit, ASEAN Ministers welcomed the launch of a 4.2 petaFLOPS joint supercomputing center in Indonesia and approved the call for proposals for a US$1.2 million ASTIF project to address regional challenges through the use of artificial intelligence.
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