Cambodia, Japan Partner to Boost Science and Innovation Capacity

PHNOM PENH, June 11, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia and Japan have deepened cooperation to strengthen science, technology and innovation (STI) management, aiming to turn research into economic and social gains, officials said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), together with Japanese partners, launched a two-day training programme on STI coordination and management, drawing about 120 participants from government, academia, vocational institutions and the private sector.

The “Foundations of STI Coordination & Management Training” supports Cambodia’s STI Roadmap 2030, which seeks to build a stronger innovation ecosystem and boost competitiveness.

“Effective coordination in science, technology and innovation is the essential bridge that will harness Cambodia’s scientific potential to achieve its economic objectives,” said Dr. Sat Samy, Secretary of State at MISTI.

The programme is jointly organised by MISTI, the Embassy of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Kyoto University. It is the third capacity-building initiative under the Cambodia-Japan STI partnership.

Sessions cover policy development, funding mechanisms, project management, strategic communication and practical approaches to challenges faced by enterprises and innovation stakeholders.

Matsuda Junsaku, Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s STI development through human resource training, research and innovation.

Japan has been a key partner in strengthening Cambodia’s science and engineering capacity for more than two decades. Since 2003, nearly 300 faculty members from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia have pursued advanced degrees through the ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net). JICA has also supported engineering education and industry-academia collaboration since 2011.

Professor Nawata Eiji, Director of the Kyoto University ASEAN Center, said the partnership has improved STI coordination in Cambodia while fostering stronger ties among government, universities and the private sector.

The training is part of broader Cambodia-Japan cooperation to build human resources and institutional capacity in science and innovation, aligned with Cambodia’s long-term development goals through 2030.