Yinson was honoured to participate in the 18th Board of Advisers Meeting (BAC-18) to the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), held on 17 June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was hosted by The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), also known in Indonesian as Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional.

BAC-18 was one of several high-level meetings held during the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Week from 16–20 June 2025. Other key meetings held in parallel included:

• the 87th COSTI Meeting (COSTI-87)
• the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21)
• related forums such as SCIRD-62, GC-AISTDF-9, AIWGST-15, AJCCST-14, and AEUDSTI-12.

These gatherings brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States, with discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation in science, technology, and innovation across the region.

The programme also featured dedicated research collaboration sessions, a COSTI-87 welcome reception, and an EU side event and dinner, fostering networking and exchange among public and private sector stakeholders.

The meeting reinforced the importance of bridging national research efforts with private sector capabilities to accelerate sustainable development across ASEAN. Yinson’s participation contributed to broader conversations on how industry players can support and complement public sector initiatives. Key reflections included:

• the strategic role of public-private partnerships in shaping science, technology, and sustainability efforts across the region
• the urgency of fostering synergies between policy, innovation, and enterprise to ensure sustainability solutions are both practical and scalable
• a shared regional vision for scaling high-impact innovations through inclusive, cross-sector collaboration.

Yinson’s presence at BAC-18 aligned with the broader goal of contributing to ASEAN’s STI development efforts, which support sustainable & low-carbon development through active engagement and partnership.

“It is inspiring to witness the private sector standing alongside national research and innovation agencies in shaping the region’s future. To truly advance the sustainability agenda, we need strong synergies between policy, innovation and enterprise. Only together can we scale the solutions that matter,” said Dr Renard Siew, Group Head of Corporate Sustainability, Yinson.

We extend our appreciation to BRIN Indonesia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the opportunity to be part of this significant regional platform.