A Science Seminar on ‘Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development’ was jointly organized by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand, in Bangkok on 12th December 2024. It brought together leading scientists and researchers, subject experts and policymakers, mainly from Southeast Asia. The seminar highlighted the pivotal role of emerging technologies, the need to build stronger regional collaboration for realizing sustainable development goals and meeting global environmental and social challenges.
The Executive Director of Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, was invited to deliver a keynote address. His talk titled ‘Future of Sustainable Development and the Role of Technology’. Amb. Zakaria identified technology and knowledge gap, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, brain-drain, and financial constraints as the barriers to achieving sustainable development by the developing countries. He emphasized the need for developing countries to create enabling environment that supports knowledge generation and innovation. He made strategic recommendations such as capacity building, technological adaptation, investment in disruptive technologies, customized international legal frameworks, and supportive economic models to encourage local solutions and drive sustainable growth.
Amb. Zakaria suggested that the developing nations must promote cross-sector collaboration, and called for technology transfer and public-private partnerships among the global south. He also proposed establishing a Regional Digital Innovation Fund within COMSATS and other IGOs and regional Institutes in the developing world to support local research and start-ups, focusing on solutions that address the unique needs of the Global South.
Earlier, Prof. Sukit Limpijumnong, President NSTDA & ANSO, in his opening remarks underscored the growing importance of international scientific collaboration in the emerging technologies for addressing sustainable development challenges. He highlighted the role AI can play in addressing global challenges. Prof. Hongping He, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), endorsing Prof. Sukit’s remarks stressed innovative solutions as means to addressing future challenges and expressed CAS’ support to ANSO for its scientific programs.
The seminar introduced participants to the core concept of sustainable development, helped examine the importance of emerging technologies, and offered practical insights into specific technological innovations that are essential for achieving global sustainability goals. The leading scientists and experts from Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines delivered insightful talks on topics including AI for Sustainable Future; Achieving Carbon Neutrality: A Sustainable Pathway; Clean Energy Solutions for a Greener Planet; Synthetic Biology: Nature’s Solution for Sustainability; and Fostering STI Partnerships in Southeast Asia and Beyond.
The seminar concluded with a panel discussion on Fostering STI partnership in South East Asia and Beyond. The panel comprised experts from Malaysia, Thailand, China and Mongolia.
