Resolution on Fostering Innovation and Connectivity


Vancouver, Canada January 17-21, 2016

Resolution on Fostering Innovation and Connectivity


(Sponsored by Thailand)

The 24th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum;

Aware that the number of agricultural-intensive economies and labour-intensive economies is diminishing while the global economy is rapidly becoming one that is knowledge-based. Countries around the world are beginning to focus on science, technology, and innovations (STI) as catalysts for driving a country’s economy forward and improving economic performance;

Mindful that challenges in an interconnected world can affect states and people either directly or indirectly at all levels and note that innovation can mitigate challenges and enhance progress on critical global issues including environment protection and emergency response, energy, transportation and logistics, agriculture, health care, administrative services, and education, and thus lead to sustainable development;

Noting innovation permeates all areas of the economy and society worldwide, therefore it is necessary to effectively combine the potential of all economies in order to promote innovation, create new and unique combinations of inputs, as well as implement advanced technology and other solutions;

Aware that knowledge and the innovative use of technology helps to increase our productivity, drive our growth and facilitate our trade, and thus emphasize the need to stimulate innovation efforts and for government and its state agencies, business, universities and research organizations to collaborate;

Recognizing that the search for technological innovations and the globally competitive need for innovative new products and processes must be stimulated by an every-expanding research community of educational institutes and R&D departments that have become important in driving the knowledge economy;

Conscious that the more information that is available to everyone improves productivity and hence cooperation at all levels to share knowledge is vital for building a sound sustainable global economy where everyone  benefits;

Recognizing that the obstacles to fostering innovation and connectivity are limited knowledge and technology transfer, inadequate financing for startups, traditional models of funding research institutions, limited human resource development and weak sectoral collaborations between industry research institutes, state agencies, as well as public and private sectors;

Recognizing that human capital development is an integral foundation of innovation and connectivity;

Recalling that the APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy, the ASEAN Krabi Initiative 2010, and APEC’s Industrial Science and Technology Working Group recognize that development and application of industrial science and technology are key factors in economic growth and prosperity, improvement in quality of life and sustainable environment;


  1. Recommend that APPF Member States support human capital development and innovation-driven economic growth, as well as inclusive and sustainable development, by defining national policies on innovation and by providing an environment of collaboration across multiple sectors which lead to greater coordination in policy-making;
  2. Call on government and state agencies to create an environment more conducive to innovation, to promote intellectual property rights and incentives, to enhance STI governance and management, diversify method and opportunity of funding for startups so that resources in key elements of the innovation system will achieve maximum benefit;
  3. Call for the development of STI infrastructure and enabling factors in order to empower society and local community, enhance economic competitiveness and flexibility, and ensure energy, resource and environmental security;
  4. Urge APPF Member Parliaments to approve budgets for innovation, promote adequate regulations and legislation to remove barriers to domestic innovation, and support governments’ efforts to create an environment for innovative growth;
  5. Promote green innovation for self-resilience, eco-friendly development, quality of life and sustainable economic growth;
  6. Urge international research collaboration among industries, governments, academic and local communities, including international organizations such as APEC and ASEAN, through cross-border educational cooperation, academic mobility and information sharing, particularly in developing countries. This collaborative networking will be able to create strong linkages and potential human resource development in government, private and academic sectors;
  7. Encourage governments to increase funding and scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEMs) to support human resource development for innovation and for a green economy.


Resolution on Fostering Innovation and Connectivity

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