On 4–5 June 2025, multi stakeholders from across ASEAN and the European Union (EU) gathered in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for the 6th EU-ASEAN Workshop on the ASEAN Technology Management Hub (TMH): Finalisation of the Implementation Plan.

Co-developed by ASEAN and EU since 2021 through the Enhanced EU-ASEAN Regional Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), the ASEAN TMH is an ambitious initiative led by Cambodia and Indonesia under the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). Its goal? To build a regional digital hub connecting researchers, start-ups, government bodies, investors and NGOs–accelerating innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact.

This sixth and final design workshop marked a key milestone ahead of the platform’s launch later this year. Building on a multi-year, ASEAN-led process, the workshop focused on advancing implementation planning and ensuring institutional readiness. Delegates worked closely to:

• Agreement on a short- to medium-term funding model to support early operations;
• Validation of the platform name, branding, and landing designs, ready for the implementation phase;
• Confirmation of a detailed implementation timeline towards its launch at COSTI-88 in October 2025;
• Refinement of Terms of Reference for the Task Force and Technical Group, clarifying governance and operational roles.
   

The workshop opened with remarks from the Under-Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) and COSTI Chair for Cambodia, H.E. Dr Hul Seingheng, and the Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, H. E. Sujiro Seam, who reaffirmed the long-term importance of ASEAN-EU cooperation in building inclusive innovation ecosystems.

Participants from the ASEAN TMH Advisory, Technical, and Task Force groups, along with stakeholders from Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Viet Nam, and the ASEAN Secretariat, reflected on three years of collaboration, from early mapping to prototype testing at the Indonesia Research and Innovation (InaRI) Expo 2024. A shared sense of readiness and momentum was clear, with post-workshop consultations planned to continue engaging the private sector.

These outcomes will be formally presented at COSTI-87 in Jakarta in June 2025.

More than a technical achievement, the ASEAN TMH represents a broader regional commitment to build a home-grown, connected innovation ecosystem that enables ASEAN-developed technologies to scale and thrive. Through E-READI, the EU has played a catalytic role, supporting ASEAN’s leadership not only technical progress, but trust, continuity, and co-ownership.

With implementation now fully underway, ASEAN is poised to launch a dynamic, regionally driven mechanism that will strengthen collaboration, competitiveness, and innovation across the region.

Learn more about the ASEAN Technology Management Hub and EU-ASEAN collaboration through E-READI:

5th EU-ASEAN Workshop on ASEAN Technology Management Hub Advances Regional Innovation

Pursuit of Innovation: EU, ASEAN advance in the design of region’s Technology Management Hub

ASEAN, EU sustain collaborative efforts in advancing ASEAN Technology Management Hub