2011 South East Asian Regional Workshop
on Science, Technology, and Innovation
Indicators
Hanoi, Vietnam
5-8 December 2011
Dr. Chan Roath, Director, Department of Scientific Research, MoEYS
& Mr. Hak Ponnara, Focal Point, COST Cambodia
Content of Presentation
A) priorities concerning STII
B) experiences on innovation survey
C) suggestions for regional collaboration
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
A) priorities concerning STII:
1. Cambodia in a Regional & Global Context
2. Building the Potential of STME for
Cambodia’s Innovation System
3. STME System Issues
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
1. Cambodia in a Regional &
Global Context
 OECD work shows innovation as a new basis for
competitiveness
 Other countries responding to a cooperative
imperative
 Rapid regional industrialisation and development
creating changing opportunities
 S&T not directly in development plan and no
implementation strategy
 Yet, need a strong S&T platform for future
development - otherwise Cambodia will lag further
behind.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
Cambodian Social Science and Science Publication, 1990 – 2008
140
120
100
80
Social Science
60
Science
40
20
20
08
20
06
20
04
20
02
20
00
19
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
0
Source: Science citation index Web of science
Cambodia STEM Presentation 1
Scientific papers and Co-authorship: 1998-2008
Selected
Country
Cambodia
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
SCIE International
Co-authorship countries
papers
co-authors
(%)
1998-2008
(%)
396
93.9
USA (26.9)
France (19.9)
4,750
88.8
Japan (28.1)
USA (22.1)
13,576
48.4
PR China(18.0) England (12.8)
4,079
71.9
USA (32.6)
Japan (25.0)
45,943
41.4
USA (30.2)
PR China(29.1)
21,001
56.6
USA (34.6)
Japan (22.7)
4,569
62.1
Japan (19.1)
USA (15.3)
Cambodia Presentation 5-8/12/2011
Japan (15.1)
Australia (22.1)
India (12.6)
PR China (7.2)
Australia (10.8)
England (12.1)
France (14.6)
Scientific Papers and Citations 1998 - 2009
Country
Papers
(n)
Citations
(n)
Citations per
paper
(n)
Cambodia
566
4,197
7.42
Indonesia
5,885
45,156
7.67
Malaysia
17,980
79,098
4.40
Philippines
5,370
44,295
8.25
Singapore
58,731
498,782
8.49
Thailand
26,896
188,759
7.02
Vietnam
5,878
41,043
6.98
Cambodia STEM Presentation 1
Scientific Publications by Field of Science: 2000-2007
All
Vietnam
Biology
Biomedical
Chemistry
Medicine
Earth Space
Engineering
Maths
Physics
Thailand
Singapore
Philippines
Malaysia
Indonesia
Cambodia
0%
20%
40%
60%
Cambodia STEM Presentation 1
80%
100%
2. Building the Potential of STEM
for Cambodia’s Innovation System

Four key Challenges;

Establish a national approach to STI policy

Produce and engage a supply of highly skilled scientists,
engineers and technicians

Develop and enhance linkages between S&T institutions
and with the private sector.

Monitor and review progress in the context of the
national innovation
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
a: Establishing a national approach to STI
policy
 No single ministry with overall responsibility






33 universities under 11 ministries
At least 8 ministries with some S&T responsibilities
Need for cross-government coordination
Need to identify key agency with coordination
responsibilities
Need for national R&D priorities
Enhancing public awareness of S&T potential
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
b: Producing and engaging a supply of highly skilled
scientists, engineers and technicians
 Rebuilding the training system



No coordinated policy for training, attracting and
retaining scientific and technical personnel
Balancing rural urban development
Linkages between different levels of institutions:




eg universities - public/private
High schools / universities
Secondary schools/high schools
Establishing a central national laboratory
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
c: Developing
and enhancing linkages between S&T
institutions and with the private sector.

A weak but emerging private sector




Need for national training priorities
Need for national R&D incentives
Private/public cooperative training systems
Using foreign firms as training organisations
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
d: Monitoring and reviewing STEM progress in
the context of the national innovation
 No single agency responsible for national
innovation strategy
 Establish STEM review process as part of
national indicators for development
 Include STEM as part of innovation progress in
national development indicators
 Undertake periodic data collection for analysis
and policy review
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. STME System Issues
 Poor or non-existent collection and exchange of
information concerning research/teaching strengths,
knowledge inputs and outputs;
 No policy making science council or co-ordinating
committee;
 No research funding council (no systematic funding
stream);
 No research policy (national priorities);
 Current R&D Unit understaffed and insufficiently
focused.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
a) Institutional Structures:
some change options

Research and Innovation Fund




To administer a research budget;
Peer review system;
Receive and assess proposals and monitor outputs
and impact using expert panels etc.;
Administration provided by STI Policy Unit.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
b) Education Issues – University issues
 Laboratory equipment often isolated and not shared
extensively nor in any systematic way;
 Suitability and effective exploitation of existing
international links is not clear;
 Position of technical training in relation to
universities needs to be reviewed
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
c) Education Issues – primary and
secondary
 Lagging mathematics and science curriculum and
pedagogy
 Limited opportunities for talented math and science
students to progress through the system
 Limited talent flowing into vocational streams.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
B) experiences on innovation survey
1. National Innovation System Analysis
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS
3. Opportunities and Challenges
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
1. National Innovation System Analysis

National Innovation System
→ “a set of institutions whose interactions
determine the innovative performance of
national firms ---- Nelson
→”constituted by elements and relationships which
intersect in the production, diffusion and use of
new, and economically useful knowledge”--Lundvall
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
1. National Innovation System Analysis (cont.)
→ Institutions – public, private, academe (international relations)
 Arrangements - socio-political relations, legal framework,
cultural factors
→ all countries have ways of doing things, their own “NIS”
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
1. National Innovation System Analysis (cont.)
→ useful for benchmarking developing countries


Thus, we use the NIS framework
Note, will not carry out NIS analysis
quantitatively – will only be descriptive in
most parts
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS

Public Institutions
→ National Assembly – policies, laws, budget,
development plans (SEDP, NPRS, NSDP)
→ Royal Government – prepares the plans,
implements the programs
◊ Ministry of Planning
◊ Ministry of Economy and Finance
◊ S&T concerns – ad hoc committee of 8
Ministries headed by MIME with MoEYS;
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
Posts and Telecommunication; Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries; Public Works and Transport; Land Management,
Urban Planning and Construction; Environment; Water
Resources and Metrology; Health
→ Ministry of Commerce and Cambodian Investment Board
Private Sector
→ Special Economic Zones – 21 proposed, 13 no investors yet, 8
with investments in garments, footwear, bicycle
manufacturing, etc.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
→ Growth areas – garments, tourism and
property development
→ Industries, primarily are SMEs in food,
beverages and tobacco
→ No key industries - those that mark industrial
economies - such as petrochemical, steel,
machine tool, electronics, etc.
→ Financial sector and capital market just getting
started
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
→ Productive agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector but limited
by lack of technology
→ Infrastructures (roads, ports, airports, power plants,
transmission lines, distribution networks, telecommunication
and Internet ) needing investments for upgrade
Academies
→ 33 public and 44 private Universities and Colleges
→ Prestigious public institutions are RUPP, Institute of
Technology, Royal University of Agriculture, Royal
University of Fine Arts
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
→ Present status – heavy teaching load, not too
many with PhDs in discipline areas, very little
research and publications, can offer BS mostly
→ Main Graduate school – Royal Academy, most
number of senior scientists with PhDs but so
far has not graduated a PhD
→ Universities and Royal Academy are not producing
scientists and engineers with advanced training. For
this, students go abroad with support provided by
foreign institutions
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)

Arrangements
→ Within the public sector
◊ disjoint planning and allocating
◊ 8 Ministries in charge of S&T – can be confusing and may
lead to absence of focus
◊ Thus, plans do not have a well-defined S&T component
◊ 11 Ministries in charge of 33 public universities
– problems in planning programs to upgrade standards,
improve efficiency in offering degree programs
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
◊ Since heavily dependent on ODA, planning and programs must have
been strongly influenced by foreign institutions
→ Within Private sector
◊ Industry organizations, which can promote industry concerns, are still
very few
→ Public-Academies
◊ Dispersed supervision of tertiary institutions
◊ R&D support to science and engineering institutions is minimal
◊ Level of support to Universities must be minimal since faculty
development programs and improvements in programs are dependent on
external funding
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
→ Public-Private
◊ MIME support for SMEs in 19 priority areas and technical
help through labs established through foreign funding
◊ In response to complaints raised by business people on the
cost and time to register a business, the government is
improving the process
◊ Provision of incentives to attract foreign investment and
establishment of Special Economic Zones
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
2. Brief Review of Cambodia’s NIS (cont.)
→ Industry-Academy
◊ Apprenticeship of engineering students in firms
◊ Technical cooperation and country programmable aid by
international agencies, countries, NGOs, development
agencies, etc.
◊ In basic education, tertiary education, agriculture and
fisheries, financial sector, infrastructures, industries, etc.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities

and Challenges
Tertiary Education
→ Advanced countries are generous in sharing
knowledge in the sciences (not technology)
→ Coupled with ODA support, Cambodia can
catch-up fast in the sciences
→ Challenge is for the local science community
to develop culture of scholarship and
excellence even during period of hardship
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Developing key advanced S&T areas
→ There are key technology areas that the country
should start developing as early as possible.
Expertise in these areas can be acquired by sending
students to advanced countries then setting up
laboratories as they come back.
→ Challenges are convincing the decision makers to
prioritize these areas and inducing students abroad to
come back and serve in the Universities

Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Technology Acquisition through ODA funded projects
→ A number of major infrastructures are being funded.
Cambodian ministries should make sure that these
projects are not done wholly by foreign engineering
firms and knowhow is transferred to local firms.
→ The challenge is producing properly trained engineers
and technicians by the numbers.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Strengthening the SME Sector
→ The biggest industry sector in terms of number of firms,
employment and people directly served
→ Today, mostly in food, beverages and tobacco
→ Diversify in other areas through subcontracting arrangements
→ Technology support through labs and training programs of
MIME
→ Challenge is how to provide capital and convince DFIs to
make use of local SMEs
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
→ Acquiring technology to increase production and
promoting sustainable agriculture are needed.
Fortunately, development agencies, foreign
universities and laboratories and even NGOs are
willing to transfer knowhow.
→ Challenge is to convince farmers and fisherfolks to
make use of new techniques and to have access to
capital for technology upgrade.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Industry Growth through SEZs
→ SEZs can contribute to industry growth and not just
for property development.
→ Incentives will help but most countries offer the
same incentives.
→ Again, focus on technology acquisition through
various mechanisms.
→ Challenges are cost competitive infrastructures and
huge supply of engineers and technicians.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Technology development in agriculture and fisheries
→ Rice production is much higher than the country’s
requirement but export limited by lack of mills, etc.
→ Fish production is big but with limited market
because of sanitary concerns
→ Rubber plantations are being privatized and are
expected to increase production. Industry needs to
move up the value chain.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
3. Opportunities
and Challenges (cont.)
Petrochemical Industry
→ The discovery of oil and natural gas may just be the
opportunity for Cambodia to establish a key Second
Wave Industry – petrochemicals. Important for
agriculture, energy, plastics, etc.
→ Challenges are big – capital investment, human
resources, management and organizational expertise
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration

The main point is for Cambodia to always
focus on acquiring knowledge, narrow the
technological gap and eventually take the lead
in key areas.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Cambodia must develop the capability for S&T Planning
→ Start the field of Technology Management
→ Train people to be specific industry experts
→ The country must define a long-term S&T plan
→ The country’s decision makers should look into the
possibility of drafting an industry development
program
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Tertiary Education
→ Establish the National Science, Technology and
Engineering Research Center (NSTERC)
→ Establish the National Higher Education
Coordination Committee (NHECC)
→ Sandwich Programs for advanced studies
→ Require return service for those sent abroad
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Developing key advanced S&T Areas
→ NSTERC Proposal
→ In the long term, once the number of PhDs reach a critical
level, many Universities (public and private) would establish
specific laboratories for key advanced S&T areas
→ Provide research incentives such as ISI publication awards,
research grants, etc.
→ Scientists should always vet their ideas by publishing in
international journals
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
→ The MIME and the first practitioners of
Technology Management should convince the
Council for the Development of Cambodia why the
country should be supported in its technology
acquisition
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
→ Technology transfer would be facilitated by
the establishment of SMEs that can do
subcontracting work for foreign firms. This
will also help in diversifying the SME
structure, from the present food, beverages and
tobacco to light industries, metalworks, etc.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Mechanism for providing capital to SMEs, rural areas
for technology upgrading
→ Explore possibility of Grameen operation for
technology upgrade in rural areas and SMEs
→ Establish fund for development of science and
technology
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Developing a National Science, Technology and
Engineering Research Capability (NSTERC) in
Cambodia.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
A national science and engineering research centre?
A higher education coordination committee?
Harmonizing professional and technical training systems?
Enhancing the role of the Royal Academy in a national
innovation system
Cross institutional sandwich programs
Establishing a national research funding system
Upgrade or strengthen all universities to full university status
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
C). Suggestions for regional collaboration (cont.)
Enhancing capacity for science, technology
and mathematics education in Cambodia
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cross institutional collaboration in teacher training and retraining
Remedial science and mathematics as a training priority
Guidelines for science and mathematics curriculum
Consistent recruitment procedures according to national
policy
University / high school shared laboratory and workshop
activities
Enhancing science and mathematics ‘ community
awareness’
Priority scholarships and international exchange
Establishing targets for teachers and teaching locations
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011
Thank You.
Cambodia presentation 5-8/12/2011