The Strategic Plan consultations also pointed out that if member States in the Asia-Pacific region are to rapidly expand their technology base to respond to threats such as climate change, they will need to significantly increase regional cooperation and cross-border technology transfer. Therefore, APCTT’s Strategy 3 will focus on strengthening regional networks, institutions, cooperation mechanisms and knowledge management using Communities of Practices through the following pathways:
Strengthening regional frameworks, networks and institutions
To fulfil Strategy 3, firstly, APCTT will become a partnership hub on innovative and emerging technology areas by strengthening regional networks among member States and technology support agencies (beginning with ESCAP’s five regional institutions and ESCAP’s Sub-regional Offices and other global networks such as for Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and others. APCTT will provide thematic, highly connected and interactive platforms for technical personnel in frontier and niche areas to exchange ideas and support each other’s nations for policy making, capacity building, technology cooperation and transfer of new and emerging technologies.
APCTT will also expand its partnerships with private & expert institutions on innovative technologies and link interested member States to the same for long-term support through institutional partnerships. APCTT will also build partnerships with key industry associations, which will be crucial to reach out to and to provide support to the private sector enterprises in the member States. APCTT will continue to use international and regional conferences and expert group meetings as mechanisms for sharing technological innovations and ideas. Additionally, APCTT will work with regional apex organisations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Association of South East Asian Nations (AESAN) and others to create policy space for facilitating cross-learning on emerging technologies.
Facilitate cross-border knowledge management
The second pathway APCTT will follow under Strategy 3 will be setting up robust and inclusive knowledge-sharing and management systems among APCTT member States. For this, APCTT will act as a connector for its member States to regional and global digital databases and compendiums on innovative and emerging technologies and providers. Additionally, APCTT will enhance the digital accessibility of the guidebooks, thematic papers, periodicals (such as Tech Monitor) and e-Learning courses on relevant areas it will continue to publish. The emphasis in the Strategic Plan 2023-27 will be for APCTT to ensure that digital Knowledge Management methods, collaboration platforms and exchange programmes for young scientists and technical personnel around new and emerging technologies are put in place and are used within member States.
Strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms on transfer of emerging technologies
Finally, and as the core of Strategy 3, APCTT will continue to promote regional cooperation within member States. For this, APCTT will target to establish at least two regional institutional cooperation mechanisms/platforms in prioritised technology areas. APCTT has already helped set up such regional cooperation mechanisms in renewable energy, nanotechnology, traditional medicines, and biotechnology areas in the past.