Sector : Science, Technology and Innovation
Lead Country : Sri Lanka
 

Sector Overview

The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Health, and Human Resource Development (HRD) sectors of BIMSTEC promote regional cooperation in science-led development, innovation, technology transfer, public health, traditional medicine, skills development, education, and capacity-building to support sustainable and inclusive growth across the Bay of Bengal region. 

Sri Lanka serves as the Lead Member State for the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Health, and Human Resource Development (HRD) sectors. Cooperation under these sectors is implemented through designated Expert Groups, Task Forces, and regional Centres of Excellence, in line with decisions of BIMSTEC Leaders and Ministerial Meetings.

a) Science, Technology & Innovation (STI)

The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) pillar promotes regional cooperation in science-led development, innovation ecosystems, technology transfer, and emerging technologies to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable development across BIMSTEC Member States.

Institutional Mechanism:
BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation (EGSTIC)

Progress in 2025

• The 3rd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation (EGSTIC) was held in Colombo on 11–12 September 2025. The meeting reviewed the draft BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (2023–2027) and agreed to organize Annual BIMSTEC Start-up Conclaves and Boot Camps.
• The Asia Group, in coordination with the BIMSTEC Secretariat and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, organized the BIMSTEC Digital Conclave in Colombo on 7–8 February 2025.
• The Memorandum of Association for establishing the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility entered into force on 28 March 2025.

Planned Activities (2026)

• Finalisation and signing of the Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility
  First Meeting of the Governing Board of the TTF to be hosted by Sri Lanka
• 4th Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation (proposed June 2026)
• 2nd Annual BIMSTEC Start-up Conclave to be hosted by India
• 2nd Boot Camp for Enabling STI Interventions to be hosted by Sri Lanka

Flagship Institutions: BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF)

• The BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) is a regional institution established to facilitate technology transfer, innovation partnerships, and commercialization of research outputs among BIMSTEC Member States.
• Memorandum of Association (MoA) signed on 30 March 2022
• MoA entered into force on 28 March 2025
• Governing Board constituted

Operationalisation pending signing of the Host Country Agreement (HCA) between Sri Lanka and the BIMSTEC Secretariat.
 

b) health

The Health pillar focuses on strengthening regional collaboration in public health and traditional medicine, with particular emphasis on pandemic preparedness, disease control, knowledge-sharing, and health systems resilience.

Mechanisms:

• BIMSTEC Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH)
• BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM)
• Ministerial Meeting on Health (MM-H)*
• Senior Officials’ Meeting on Health (SOM-H)*

*The MM-H and SOM-H were approved by the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit and are yet to be convened.

Public Health

Health was included as an area of BIMSTEC cooperation in 2005. The BIMSTEC Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH) held its first meeting in Colombo on 26–27 July 2023, preceded by a high-level conference on improving pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through a One Health approach.

The Expert Group finalized the institutional arrangement and financial support framework, with support from the World Bank, for implementation of the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Public Health (2023–2025).

Health Sector: Activities in 2025

• International Training Course on Management of Malaria (virtual), hosted by the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine, 25–29 August 2025.
• Second Training on Essential Laboratory Diagnostic Tools for Malaria Elimination (in person), hosted by the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine, 24–26 September 2025, Bangkok.

Traditional Medicine

Traditional Medicine cooperation under BIMSTEC is coordinated through the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM).  There are two proposed Centres of Excellence, one for Traditional Medicine, in India, and other for Tropical Medicine, in Thailand.

Sri Lanka hosted the Second Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK), Genetic Resources (GR) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), along with the Nodal Group Meeting, on 27 August 2025. The Seventh Meeting of the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM) was held in Colombo on 26–27 November 2025.

In collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the BIMSTEC Secretariat organized two virtual webinar series in 2025 on intellectual property, traditional knowledge, and genetic resources.

Traditional Medicine: Planned Activities (2026)
 

• Third Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK), Genetic Resources (GR) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and back-to-back Second Nodal Group Meeting on TMK, GR and IPR (to be hosted by India).

Centres of Excellence under the Health Sector

BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine

The BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine has been proposed to strengthen regional cooperation in research, training, and capacity-building related to tropical diseases. The Concept Note was concurred by BIMSTEC Member States by 24 March 2025. Preparation of the Memorandum of Association (MoA) is in the process.

BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine

The BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine has been proposed to be hosted by India to advance cooperation in traditional medicine systems, research, education, and protection of traditional knowledge. A Concept Note circulated among Member States for comments/concurrence.

c) Human Resources Development

The Human Resource Development (HRD) cooperation under BIMSTEC is guided by the BIMSTEC Plan of Implementation on Human Resource Development (2025–2029). The Plan focuses on skills development, education, and capacity building, and is implemented by Member States on a voluntary basis, taking into account national priorities and contexts.

Mechanism:

BIMSTEC Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD)

HRD Meetings
 

• First Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD)
  Virtual Meeting, 21–22 August 2024, Colombo, Sri Lanka
   
• Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD)
  16 July 2025, Colombo, Sri Lanka
   
• Third Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD) is proposed to be hosted by Sri Lanka.