In conjunction with World Innovation Day on 21 April, we celebrate creativity and innovation that drive progress in all aspects of human development. Asian and European countries are among global leaders in innovation. According to the WIPO Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, Switzerland ranked first for the 14th consecutive year and Singapore, fourth, as the highest-placed Asian economy, on the list of 10 most innovative nations worldwide. While seven countries on the list are European, the world’s five biggest science and technology (S&T) clusters are all located in East Asia – Japan, China and Korea. The two regions also enjoy substantial innovation cooperation within and between them. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) prioritises research and innovation through the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025. The EU has, inter alia, Horizon Europe and published it Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 last year. EU-ASEAN collaboration, such as the Joint Funding Scheme and ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science and Technology, focusses on research in the areas of green technologies, digital infrastructure and climate resilience. Other examples include the Germany-Singapore strategic partnership for joint innovation projects on clean energy, climate action, connectivity, cybersecurity and digitalisation; the German Accelerator Southeast Asia initiative; Norway and Vietnam’s cooperation in sustainable development, marine technology and renewable energy, especially offshore wind power; France and India cooperation through the Franco-Indian Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research, as well as EU digital trade agreements with Singapore and South Korea to establish regulatory frameworks for cross-border e-commerce and technological integration. The collaboration between both regions help synergise their efforts and promote mutual economic and social benefits.
Upcoming events featuring innovation and knowledge-sharing include The Osaka Expo (13 April–13 October 2025), to showcase innovation in sustainability, smart cities and healthcare and The Singapore FinTech Festival (12–14 November 2025), to discuss digital finance, new technologies and regulatory innovation.
What do you think of these initiatives and the areas of focus? Share your views with us.
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