Cambodia’s Science and Innovation Council Pushes Policy Into Action for Growth, Resilience

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 23, 2025) — Cambodia’s National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation used its fifth meeting to move beyond strategy and into implementation, approving key policies and setting priority actions to drive economic growth and strengthen national resilience.

Council President Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, underscored the need for unified cooperation across ministries to build a functioning national innovation ecosystem. He emphasized translating policy into measurable outcomes, noting technology’s rising role in regional competitiveness and global positioning.

The Council endorsed two major documents — evaluation criteria for science, technology and innovation, and guidelines to attract global talent — while advancing initiatives on research governance, a national research fund, digital government platforms, and Cambodia’s participation in ASEAN-level cooperation.

In setting its agenda, the Council prioritized demand-driven research aligned with private sector needs, technology transfer through innovation sandboxes, productivity gains for small and medium-sized enterprises via digital transformation and workforce skills, and long-term human capital development anchored in STEM education.

By anchoring science and innovation in economic policy, the Council reaffirmed its role in steering Cambodia toward Vision 2050, positioning research, technology and skills as engines of competitiveness and resilience.