KISTEP, in collaboration with The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), held the “2024 KISTEP-ISTIC STI Education and Training Program” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 23 to July 26. The program, which started in 2009, has imparted expertise and development experience in science and technology innovation (STI) policy, which has become the foundation of Korea's economic growth, to about 270 high-level S&T policymakers from 71 member countries of ISTIC. In the 2024 program, 15 S&T policymakers from a diverse range of countries participated. Represented regions included Asia (Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan), and Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe).

△ Participants of the 2024 KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training Program

This year, the program, previously focused on lectures about Korea's R&D planning, coordination, and evaluation system, has been revamped into a hands-on technology forecasting education program. The revamped program included scenario planning lectures and hands-on exercises, Delphi analysis sessions with practical applications, and presentations of country reports. This design aimed to boost participant engagement and enhance the overall effectiveness of the educational experience.

△ Networking among participants

President Byung-Seon Jeong remarked, “We are delighted to host the KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the first time since 2018.” He added, “This year’s program is particularly meaningful as it has been revamped into a practice-oriented format, incorporating feedback from previous participants and offering more opportunities for active engagement.” He affirmed his commitment to sharing Korea’s S&T development experiences and addressing shared concerns. Additionally, he aims to further develop training programs and explore cooperative opportunities to advance national development, enhance technological innovation in developing countries, and contribute to universal human values such as solving global challenges and improving quality of life.

△ Group photo of the 2024 KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training Program

The next KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training Program is scheduled to be held in Korea in July 2025.

* Introduction of ISTIC

The creation of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC) was a successful outcome of the Second South Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 and China in Doha, Qatar, June 2005. ISTIC was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2008 to support the establishment of national S&T innovation policies and various related research and exchange activities in developing countries.

http://www.istic-unesco.org

** Introduction of KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training Program

KISTEP-ISTIC STI Training Program shares Korea's economic development experiences and S&T innovation examples to high-level policy makers in developing countries that are ISTIC members. It was launched in 2009 with a request to KISTEP for a "customized R&D training program" to strengthen overall S&T capabilities in the countries, including national S&T policy establishment, planning and evaluation, and management techniques.