Within the framework of their recent trip to Bhutan and India, a delegation from the Authority of Da Nang's Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones recently attended the 13^th Asian Science Parks Association (ASPA) Leaders Meeting at Hotel Namgay Heritage, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Delegates attending the 13th Asian Science Parks Association (ASPA) Leaders Meeting

Hosted annually by members of ASPA, the ASPA Leaders Meeting is a closed meeting amongst ASPA Members to exchange experiences, successful know-how and knowledge of Science and Technology development of advanced Asian Science and Technology Parks. The Leaders Meeting will also serve as a platform for member countries to strengthen the network of ASPA and forge unity.

This year’s event was attended by representatives of science and technology parks and IT zones in such advanced countries in the region as South Korea, Japan, and China.

The Ha Noi based- Hoa Lac and Ho Chi Minh City hi-tech parks and the Authority of Da Nang's Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones are ASPA members.

In his remarks at the meeting, Dr. Yeong-Junaq Wang, the President of ASPA highly appreciated this year’s event for offering a great opportunity for the participants to take initiatives and specific action programmes to build a stronger and more effective association in the future.

During the event, ASPA delegates focused on discussing the ‘Role of Science & Technology Parks in the Development of a Nation’. Well-known speakers on the subject were invited to present their opinions from which the members will benefit.

This year’s theme was relevant for reflecting on the role that the science and technology parks have played in their respective nation’s progress and economic advancement in the face of fast paced digital transformation around the globe.

Mr. Phub Gyeltshen, the President of the Bhutan ICT and Training Association (BICTTA) addressing the event

Dr Sunkook Kwon, the Secretary-General of the ASPA introduced the participants to the Establishing Science and Technology Parks: A Reference Guidebook for Policymakers in Asia and the Pacific at address : https://www.unescap.org/resources/escap-stp-2019. 

This guidebook reviews the historical development of science and technology parks, and discusses how they fit into the national policies in the region. It serves as a reference source for policymakers in charge of policy or planning related to the development of science and technology parks in Asia and the Pacific.

Mr Shigekata Mizuno, the Director of the Kyoto Research Park highlighted development orientations for attracting investment and effectively taping resources.

Dr Tshering Cigay Dorji, the CEO of the Thimphu TechPark (TTP) delievered a brief introductory presentation on Bhutan’s first and only IT park.

Officially operated on May 2012, TTP now has a data centre, few domestic companies and 7 international IT/ITES companies employing more than 700 people in total. In particular, there is an incubation centre where Bhutanese entrepreneurs can avail furnished workstation or foreign companies can run a pilot operation to test the opportunities offered by Bhutan.

After the meeting, the delegates visited the TTP, about 15 minutes’ drive from the conference venue.