student winners showing their awards from business venture seed grant

U.S.-ASEAN Science,  Technology, and Innovation Cooperation (STIC) Program

Strengthening science and technology collaboration across Southeast Asia

View all past programs

Funder

U.S. Department of State (Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

Project dates

2022–2025 (3 years)

Partner

United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO)

Focus

STEM Capacity Building

$3.13M USD

Amount Awarded

Region

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam

Key innovation

Multi-pronged approach combining online learning platform, policy engagement, seed funding, and regional convening to create sustainable innovation ecosystem

Four people stand smiling in front of a symposium banner featuring multiple logos and event details.

Project Overview

The U.S.–ASEAN STIC Program served as a powerful catalyst for science, technology, and innovation collaboration across ASEAN. By blending policy exchange, digital upskilling, seed grant competitions, and public–private partnership models, STIC generated enduring ripple effects in research, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity.

Advancing STEM Innovation and University Autonomy in Vietnam

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of Multilateral Affairs, and implemented by Arizona State University from 2022 to 2025, the U.S.-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Program strengthened science, technology and innovation collaboration between the United States and ASEAN member states. The program advanced regional capacity and cross-sector partnerships through three integrated core activities:

A U.S.-based science, technology and innovation policy study tour in Washington, D.C.
The ASEAN Online Education Platform for Industry 4.0, an online portfolio of upskilling and reskilling content developed with leading U.S. private-sector partners — including Microsoft, Meta, Google and IBM — and U.S. universities, including Arizona State University.
An annual regional conference hosted in ASEAN member states featuring technical and innovation tracks, as well as competitive grant opportunities for research, publication and venture creation.

STIC integrated capacity building, seed funding, regional convening and public-private partnerships to accelerate cross-border collaboration. The program convened leaders from government, higher education, industry and innovation ecosystems across all 10 ASEAN member states and the United States, strengthening applied research, supporting innovation adoption and advancing scalable ventures with regional impact.

Learn more about STIC

Scale of Impact

18,798

stakeholders engaged across all 10 ASEAN Member States and the U.S.

10

ASEAN Member States Engaged (plus the United States)

60%+

Awardees who leveraged seed funding for follow-on financing

8

Seed grant award rounds
(four research and four venture projects funded each year)

Key Achievements and Strategic Approach

Regional Capacity Building
Developed and launched the ASEAN Online Education Platform for Industry 4.0 with curated content from top U.S. universities and tech companies (Microsoft, Meta, Google, IBM), providing free upskilling to all ASEAN nationals in alignment with APASTI 2016-2025 priorities
Policy & Diplomatic Engagement
Organized two policy study tours in Washington D.C. for senior government officials, facilitating high-level dialogue on cybersecurity (Year 1) and environmental biotechnology (Year 2) policy frameworks
Innovation Ecosystem Development
Awarded $200,000 in competitive seed grants across two annual cycles, funding 8 research projects and 8 business ventures that successfully attracted $2.5M+ in follow-on investments
Convening & Thought Leadership
Hosted annual regional conferences in Indonesia and Laos featuring technical and innovation tracks, bringing together government, academia, and industry to advance science and technology cooperation across ASEAN