18/09/2025
Third M๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) held its Third Expert Group Meeting on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Cooperation on 11th September, 2025 at the Ramada by Wyndham in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event was hosted by the National Science and Technology Commission of Sri Lanka (NASTEC) in collaboration with the BIMSTEC Secretariat, and was presided over by the Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka. The event brought together 21 senior delegates from BIMSTEC member states, including representatives from the BIMSTEC Secretary Generalโs Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Science and Technology Commission.
The meeting aimed to accelerate STI development through collaborative regional efforts, facilitate technology transfer among member countries, and foster public-private partnerships to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. A key outcome of the deliberations was the formal adoption of the STI Plan of Action (2023โ2027), which sets a strategic framework for advancing cooperation and development in the STI sector. The meeting also featured the BIMSTEC Start-up Conclave and marked the operationalization of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility, both of which are expected to strengthen innovation ecosystems and enable cross-border knowledge exchange. Discussions underscored the alignment of the STI Cooperation Plan of Action with regional priorities, and the meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepening cooperation across the disciplines of science, technology, and innovation. The event marked a significant milestone in BIMSTECโs efforts to institutionalize STI collaboration and position the region for inclusive and resilient development.
