Co-Creation of Myanmar STI Policy: Inaugural Session
In early 2020, ESCAP agreed to support the Department of Research and Innovation (DRI), Ministry of Education, of Myanmar to formulate the national STI Policy and Strategy for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.
After much planning and deliberation, the Co-Creating Myanmar’s STI Policy programme has been officially launched! This innovative approach towards policymaking will involve a series of training webinars, facilitated discussions and national consultations, all to be done completely online.
The co-creation process officially started on 6th of July, with an introductory session opened by Mr. Win Khaing Moe, Director General of DRI and Ms. Marta Pérez Cusó, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP. The 16 policy champions – the Sherpas – who will co-create Myanmar’s STI Policy participated in this session. The Sherpas will ensure that the national proposed science, technology and innovation policy has broad support and responds to the needs and aspirations of the nation, leaving no one behind.
“The role of STI in economic and social progress requires not only appropriate infrastructure, resources and capabilities to produce new inventions, but also the capacity of individuals, communities, ministries and companies to apply and absorb them. We should understand and support the whole process of technological and innovative development, and to find a recipe for implementing changes so that we can strive to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.”
- Mr. Win Khaing Moe, Director General of DRI
The introductory session, which launched the co-creation process, involved nine representatives from government, four from civil society/business organizations and three from academia.
This process will be supported by international specialists in STI policy as well as by policymakers from Thailand, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, among others. It is expected that by end of October 2020, Myanmar will have a sound draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy to support sustainable and inclusive development.