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2024 Asian Science Academies Forum
21 NOV 2024

2024 Asian Science Academies Forum

TÜBA President Prof. Muzaffer Şeker attended the 2024 Asian Science Academies Forum in South Korea upon the invitation of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST). Prof. Ahmet Nur Yurdusev, Full Member of TÜBA and President of the Association of Asian Science Academies and Societies (AASSA), also took part in the forum.

As Asian countries are becoming more influential on a global scale in various fields such as economy, culture and science, and the importance of science and technology as the main driver of national growth has increased, KAST brought together the heads of academies of Asian countries under the theme of “Advancement of Science and Technology in Asia” as part of its 30th anniversary celebration. The forum opened with the speeches of Prof. Ook Joon Yoo, President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and Prof. Ahmet Nur Yurdusev, President of AASSA.

In addition to TÜBA, representatives of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Malaysian Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Indonesian Academy of Sciences, Japan Science Council, Pakistan Academy of Science, National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines participated in the program, where 3 sessions were held.

“Our focus is on artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and renewable energy”
At the meeting, where the president of each science academy made a presentation on the current state of science and technology in their countries, President Şeker explained Türkiye's approach to promoting innovation and growth in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which form the basis of Türkiye's national agenda. He stated that Türkiye’s STEM policy is built on four main goals and said “We are committed to strengthening STEM education at all levels, from primary school to graduate studies, with the goal of improving education. We are integrating digital literacy and artificial intelligence into the national curriculum to prepare future generations for the rapidly evolving technological environment. We recognize the importance of developing a collaborative ecosystem that bridges academia and industry to promote research and innovation. As Türkiye, we are focusing on cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and renewable energy, which we believe have great potential for global leadership. As the global science and technology environment becomes increasingly competitive, we are aligning our policies with international standards. Ensuring women's participation in STEM is a priority for us; we have launched special programs to encourage women to pursue careers in STEM fields, which will unlock our diverse and dynamic workforce.”

Stating that Türkiye has made significant progress in terms of R&D investments, Prof. Şeker said that 1.6% of the national GDP was allocated to R&D in 2023, the target is 2% by 2028, and that investment is important for progress in university and industry cooperation projects. Informing that Türkiye is working to be among the top 20 in global STEM innovation and education within the framework of the 2053 vision, President Şeker stated that studies will be carried out on sustainability, smart technologies and green transformation, which are critical areas in line with global priorities such as climate action and sustainable development. He said that efforts are underway to close the gap between academic research and industry practices through programs, projects, support and incentives. He also stated that ensuring equal access to STEM education in every corner of the country is among the priority needs.

At the end of his speech, Prof. Şeker said, “Türkiye has taken important steps in the development of STEM. In the ongoing process, cooperation within our country and with international partners needs to continue. The challenges we face such as the loss of young talent, the gap between academia and industry, and equal access to education are not unique to Türkiye. They are shared by many of the countries represented here today. That is why forums like this are so valuable as they allow us to learn from each other and work together towards common goals.”