Antony J. Blinken 71st U.S. Secretary of State | Official Website
The U.S. Department of State hosted the second annual Symposium on Accelerating Science, Technology, and Circular Innovation in Southeast Asia: Smart Cities Innovation, Biotechnology, and Circularity in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) from July 17-19. The event was developed jointly by the U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP), Arizona State University (ASU)-implemented U.S.-ASEAN Science, Technology, Innovation and Cooperation Program (STIC), and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). It emphasized the importance of education and training, circular economy and innovation, and climate resilience to the region. The symposium brought together public, academic, and private sector participants across various disciplines.
Discussions during the symposium highlighted programs across multiple sectors. One such program was Water Smart Engagements (WiSE), which pairs water utilities from U.S. and Southeast Asian cities to enhance water security in ASEAN cities through sustainable water management solutions. The symposium showcased WiSE partnerships in the Mekong sub-region, demonstrating the outcomes of these city partnerships as the program concluded its final year. These partnerships exemplify U.S. cooperation on water and natural resources management under the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). USASCP also announced plans to launch the Smart Cities Business Innovation Fund 2.0 with a capitalization of $3 million to promote net-zero urban innovation and sustainable business practices.
ASU hosted the U.S.-ASEAN STIC business venture pitch competition and research project presentations at the event. This culminated in awarding $100,000 to support proposals advancing technology innovations across ASEAN member states. Several research proposals focused on biotechnology due to its crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge and addressing contemporary challenges in the ASEAN region.
The Circular Entrepreneurship program by RIT expanded its training partnerships throughout ASEAN and presented material flow analysis research along with ongoing work to better understand the informal sector's role in the ASEAN e-waste life cycle. This integrated event involving public and private sector partners demonstrated U.S. commitment to advancing science, innovation, and resiliency across ASEAN.
For further information, please contact EAP-Press@state.gov.
