Asia, Europe explore opportunities for science, technology research

MANILA, Philippines - The European Commission and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are exploring opportunities to further research in science and technology between the two regional blocs. The head of the European Commission’s directorate-general for esearch, Director-General Jose-Manuel Silva Rodriguez is currently in the country to meet with ASEAN science and technology counterparts who are currently holding the Fifth Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on science and technology. Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of delegation of the European Commission in the Philippines, said this is the first time that they have been invited to the ASEAN meeting to hold dialogues, confirming the importance of cooperation between the two groups. “International cooperation in scientific research is an essential component of the EU-ASEAN cooperation more generally," said MacDonald. Among the fields of S&T, MacDonald took note of the importance of international research cooperation in agriculture given soaring world food prices. He said the commission would like to strengthen its cooperation in agricultural research. Silva Rodriguez will particularly hold bilateral meetings with the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and the International Rice Research Institute on this aspect. Aside from agricultural research, the Commission is also supporting research in sustainable aquaculture, medical research, and information technology, among others. The European Commission is supporting research in advanced IT through the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Research, Educaton and Government Information Network or Preginet, a high-bandwidth digital infrastructure for education and research. Preginet is connected to the commission’s Trans-Eurasia Information Network 3 (TEIN 3) whichy improves interconnection and data exchanges between research communities in Asia and Europe. The European Commission is tapping its latest Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development or FP7, a funding source for the years 2007-2013, to promote international cooperation in S&T. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV