The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation is moving forward with efforts to introduce the “Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Evaluation Criteria” framework.
A June 24 workshop aimed to raise awareness about the new standardised evaluation framework among stakeholders from government, academia and the private sector. The new policy, which is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating the achievement of national strategic priorities.
“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,” said Try Sophal, director-general of the ministry’s General Department of STI.
Presiding over the opening ceremony, Hul Seingheng, ministry undersecretary of state, explained that the new framework was developed in response to the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy, which identifies “Technology” as a key priority.
“An effective STI evaluation framework will become a potent driving force to support national development planning,” he 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,” he added.
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, noted the ministry.
“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 realisation of Cambodia Vision 2050,” it said.
