enhanced economic growth, trade and investment opportunities in harmony with sustainable development, through policies, innovative R&D and technologies, and knowledge sharing;
a better quality of life and a cleaner environment;
a safe and secure society, emphasizing the importance of measures for infectious diseases and natural disasters;
human resource capacity building;
enhanced international science and technology networks;
an improved level of connection between research and innovation, involving and encouraging the potential of SMEs; and
strengthened technological cooperation and achievement of best practices in strategic planning for IST projects and programs.
APEC Climate Center The 2008 Symposium on the APEC Climate Center for Climate Information Services to Society was held on 19-21 August 2008 in, Lima, Peru. The symposium provided a forum for: facilitating regional cooperation in developing climate prediction science and technology; designing effective ways to share advanced climate information for the benefit of all APEC members; sharing the latest knowledge and expertise on climate prediction focused on seasonal range; and developing future plans for collaboration towards regional adaptation to climate change. The 2008 Symposium specifically addressed regional climate prediction with respect to South America, the application of seasonal prediction and frontline technologies in seasonal climate prediction.
35th Meeting of the ISTWG The 35th ISTWG meeting was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 8-9 September, 2008. Seven members (China, Japan, Russia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA and Viet Nam) reported on and shared recent developments in science, technology and innovation policy in their own economies.
APEC Symposium on Research and Innovation The APEC Symposium on Research and Innovation: Policy Mechanisms for Science and Technology Planning and Building Public/Private Partnerships was hosted by Viet Nam on 10-11 September 2008. The participants were mostly senior government officials and policy-makers directly responsible for innovation strategy in their economies. The aim of the symposium was to enhance the ability of economies to identify science and technology priorities, to apply existing methods for regular assessment of those priorities and to create and sustain productive partnerships between government, academia and industry.
Material traceability and technical barriers to trade The APEC Seminar on Traceability in Materials Testing to Reduce Technical Barriers to Trade was held in Daejeon, Korea, on 29-30 September 2008. The speakers covered measurement challenges and the traceability of property values, and discussion followed on which materials and property values to focus on from the point of view of reducing technical barriers to trade. As a result of the seminar, the APEC Network on Materials Evaluation Technology (ANMET), whose creation was sponsored by APEC several years ago, may be enhanced by increasing the participation of member economies through national metrology institutes and materials research institutes.
Nanoscale Analytical and Measurement Methods A forum on the Technological Cooperative Framework on Nanoscale Analytical and Measurement Methods was held in Chinese Taipei, on 1-3 October 2008. The forum's objectives were:
to get a clear picture of measurement needs and a roadmap of nanoproducts
to raise suggestions for potential regulation relating to the protection of consumers, the general public and the environment from the impacts of nanomaterials throughout their lifecycle
to launch a robust measurement study on the impacts of nanoproducts.
