ASEAN Launches Foresight Report To Shape Region’s STI Future
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- ASEAN marked a historic milestone today in charting its collective future with the launch of the ASEAN Ahead: ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ecosystem Foresight 2035 and Beyond (ASEAN Ahead) report.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement, said the report, developed under the leadership of the ASEAN Foresight Alliance and spearheaded by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), serves as a strategic blueprint to strengthen ASEAN’s position as a global powerhouse.
The report explores four possible scenarios for ASEAN by 2035, emphasising that the region’s transition towards an innovation-driven future depends not only on financial investment, but also on values-based governance that promotes inclusivity, sustainability and long-term strategic thinking.
“The preferred scenario, Collective Prosperity, envisions a region where economic progress, environmental stewardship and social cohesion advance hand in hand. Achieving this will require stronger collaboration among governments, businesses and research institutions across ASEAN,” the ministry said.
The report was launched by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who represented Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, and ASM president and STI Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Nation, Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen.
The ASEAN Ahead report, endorsed by the ASEAN Ministers and Committee in June 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, has been officially recognised as the backbone of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026-2035.
The first regional foresight exercise of its kind, it is designed to equip ASEAN with future-ready strategies amid rapid global changes.
According to MOSTI, the ASEAN Ahead report’s core is the Triple-10 ASEAN STI Framework, a bold model inspired by Malaysia’s 10-10 MySTIE Framework introduced in 2020, which aligns ten socio-economic drivers with 10 science and technology drivers to accelerate high-impact growth across the region.
“ASEAN is now taking this model to the next level by incorporating 10 ‘Forces of Change’ to fundamentally reshape ASEAN societies and economies over the coming decade.
The ministry added that these transformative forces, namely demographic transitions, technological disruptions and governance reforms, underscore the urgent need for ASEAN to strengthen its STI capabilities and readiness, not only to remain competitive but also to future-proof regional integration in an era of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said the landmark publication provides a comprehensive strategic outlook on ASEAN’s future trajectory, emphasising the critical role of STI in driving sustainable economic growth and deeper regional integration.
In the meantime, Chang said MOSTI remains committed to promoting research, technology and innovation as key enablers of national and regional growth, ensuring ASEAN stays agile and responsive to global shifts and new opportunities.
Tengku Mohd Azzman said that the report offers a strategic framework to elevate the region’s position as a global powerhouse, enabling ASEAN to not merely respond to change but to actively shape it.
For full ASEAN Ahead report, visit https://www.akademisains.gov.my/asean-ahead/.
-- BERNAMA
