Board of Advisers to COSTI (BAC)

The ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) was supported by two advisory bodies, namely, the Advisory Body of ASEAN Science Fund (ABASF) that was established in 2000 to advise COSTI on the management and utilization of the ASEAN Science Fund (ASF) and the Advisory Body on the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology (ABAPAST) that was established in 2002 to review and monitor the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI).

Following the adoption of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) for the period 2016-2025 by the S&T Ministers on 6 November 2015, the ministers agreed that there is an urgent need to synergise the efforts of the ABAPAST and ABASF in facilitating the implementation of agreed programmes and activities of the APASTI including the funding support that can be provided by the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF).  As such, the ministers agreed that the two advisory bodies shall be merged to form the Board of Advisers to COSTI (BAC).

BAC shall advise ASEAN COSTI on:

1. the development and implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025 and ASEAN Innovation Roadmap 2019-2025;
2. the management and utilization of the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF);
3. the utilization of other possible fundings from dialogue partners, sectoral partners, developmental partners, industry/private sectors and international organisations; and
4. any other matters assigned by COSTI.