PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a dissemination workshop on the “Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Evaluation Criteria.”
The workshop aimed to raise awareness among stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector about a new standardised evaluation framework that will play a crucial role in accelerating the achievement of national strategic priorities, according to MISTI.
In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Dr. Try Sophal, Director General of the General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, stated: “The Science, Technology and Innovation Evaluation Criteria were initiated to serve as a reference for public and private institutions in creating their own guidelines for evaluating STI attributes, and to strengthen themselves to become high-level, improved STI institutions, promoting decision-making, stable implementation, and fostering cooperation among key stakeholders such as the government, academia, and industry.”
Presiding over the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Undersecretary of State at MISTI, emphasised that creating the STI Evaluation Criteria responds well to the Royal Government’s Pentagonal Strategy that’s placed ‘Technology’ as a key priority.
“An effective STI evaluation framework will become a potent driving force to support national development planning,” H.E. Hul Seingheng said. “Such framework will provide important, evidence-based insights for leaders at all levels to use as a compass for decision-making, aiming to enhance national prestige by improving Cambodia’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index.”
These criteria are expected to become a key tool for measuring and evaluating the implementation of STI-related data, projects, policies, and initiatives—ensuring the efficient and transparent use of resources.
The framework will help institutions identify their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to make improvements and build capacity in support of Cambodia’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy and the realization of Cambodia Vision 2050.
The workshop brought together over 100 participants representing ministries, universities, associations, and local and international businesses to discuss, share experiences, and identify challenges in implementing the criteria. Participants also explored ways to strengthen partnerships and share best practices for future STI evaluations.