Economies Press for Open Innovation as Science, Technology and AI Reshape Growth

Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, 2 February 2026APEC economies called for deeper policy coordination and practical cooperation on science, technology and innovation as artificial intelligence (AI) and other frontier technologies accelerate economic transformation across the Asia-Pacific.

“Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is gaining momentum. Frontier technologies, especially AI, are developing rapidly, opening up new possibilities for human society. At the same time, we are facing intertwined global challenges,” said Chen Jiachang, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of China, in his opening remarks at the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation held this week in Guangzhou.

“As the core engine of global growth, Asia-Pacific economies are closely connected and share common interests, which requires us to strengthen consensus and cooperation, take science, technology and innovation as the key and jointly safeguard overall regional prosperity and stability,” Vice Minister Chen said.

Meeting under the theme Fostering an Open and Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem for Resilient Growth in the Asia-Pacific, policymakers, researchers and experts examined how open innovation, cross-border knowledge flows and public–private collaboration can support productivity growth while addressing challenges such as digital inequality, sustainability and responsible technology governance.

Innovation is one of the three priorities for APEC in 2026, with economies seeking to unlock growth potential through technological change while promoting shared prosperity. Discussions focused on artificial intelligence policy, green and digital transition, open science, researcher mobility and the role of innovation ecosystems in strengthening regional competitiveness.

“In the face of new opportunities and challenges, it is more crucial to pursue science, technology and innovation cooperation with greater focus and sustained efforts,” Vice Minister Chen said.

Dr Hwanil Park, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), emphasized the need for clearer policy direction and measurable outcomes.

“We’re in a global environment where advances in science, technology and AI are reshaping economies and elevating national security concerns. We must advance the group’s role, relevance and visibility within APEC,” Dr Park said.

“PPSTI must provide clear and forward-looking policy direction on science, technology, innovation and AI, and we must demonstrate through concrete and measurable outcomes how cooperation within PPSTI delivers mutual benefits to APEC member economies,” he added.

The meeting reviewed progress and updates on APEC-funded projects, open science initiatives and scientist exchange programs. Economies also exchanged views on new project proposals spanning artificial intelligence, low-carbon technologies, university–industry collaboration, women in science and youth innovation.

Highlighting the importance of openness and collaboration, Hazami Habib, Vice Chair of PPSTI, said economies must harness diversity across the region to translate innovation into inclusive and sustainable growth.

“Fostering an open innovation ecosystem is not merely about technology transfer; it is about building strong partnerships between governments, the private sector, academia and civil society,” she said. “Collaborative approaches enable us to share knowledge, resources and best practices, empowering us to tackle challenges collectively.”

Outcomes from the Guangzhou meeting will inform PPSTI’s future work program and policy recommendations, supporting APEC economies as they seek to leverage science, technology and innovation for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.