KISTEP (President, Sang-sun Kim) established a platform for Science Diplomacy that shares Korea's STI policy and insights with developing countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. KISTEP held the 13th KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Program for High Level Policy Makers online for four days from August 24th to 27th, jointly with the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO(ISTIC).

▲ KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Program Commemorative Photography

The program, which marks its 13th anniversary this year, attracted 19 policymakers from 15 countries including Asia (Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia), Africa (Nigeria, Uganda, and South America (Brazil, Peru).

▲ KISTEP-ISTIC STI Education and Training Program Session Introduction

The online program covered Technology Foresight; S&T Basic Plan; Human Resources in S&T Policy; R&D Program Budget Allocation and Coordination; R&D Performance Management and Utilization; and S&T Innovation Measurement. Also, there were real-time online Q&A session with lecturers and country STI report, presented by participants.

▲ KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Program Online Session

This program was held online followed by last year due to COVID-19, and was intended to provide extensive and in-depth educational content on Korea's STI governance and experience via lecture videos, online education management platform and real-time online session.

"International cooperation to strengthen STI capabilities in developing countries matters especially in the current situation where the COIVD-19 outbreak escalating the gap between countries. I appreciate participating in this program despite COVID-19," said Sang-sun Kim, president of KISTEP. He added, "We will continue to seek ways to cooperate so that developing countries can strengthen their independence beyond overcoming the coronavirus 19 crisis through scientific and technological innovation."

* ISTIC
(International Science, Technology and Innovation, Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO) It is a national science and technology support organization established under the Doha Plan of Action, a coalition of developing countries in the United Nations. It was established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2008 under the auspices of UNESCO to develop national science and technology innovation policies, various research, and exchange activities in developing countries. 

http://www.istic-unesco.org

** KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Program for High Level Policy Makers
It is a program that introduces Korea's STI development history and experience to high-level policymakers in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which are members of ISTIC. It started in 2009 when developing countries requested KISTEP for a "customized R&D education training program" to strengthen overall scientific and technological capabilities such as national STI  policies, planning and evaluation, and management techniques.