As support towards the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025, ASEAN-German Energy Programme (AGEP) continues its effort in enhancing the research and development (R&D) network on renewable energy (RE) technology development and deployment. Last year, AGEP published a report on RE R&D in ASEAN (https://agep.aseanenergy.org/research-and-development-rd-on-renewable-energy-in-asean/) as a stepping stone to fulfill one of APAEC’s outcome-based strategy in Renewable Energy Programme Area: The establishment of a nodal network to promote cooperation, technology development, sharing of research facilities and exchange and mobility of researchers. In this second phase, AGEP, a jointly implemented programme by ACE and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is moving forward with the development of the detailed framework for the network.

In the course of development, AGEP organised a focus group discussion (FGD) to better shape the concept of the framework by gathering inputs and endorsement from the Renewable Energy Sub-Sector Network (RE-SSN) focal points. The FGD was held online on Monday, 27 July 2020, as one of the associated meetings in the 27^th ASEAN RE-SSN Annual Meeting, with a total of 56 participants, which included the government representatives from six ASEAN Member States (AMS), universities, research institutions, and private sector. During the FGD, AGEP presented the initial concept of the framework, such as coordination, communication line, and the potential activities that will be implemented by the established network. The activities will be comprised of database development & dissemination activities, joint research/proposal development, capacity building, network funding, and resource-sharing (e.g., peer-review, sharing facilities, personnel exchange). Before the FGD was concluded, partners and speakers from ASEAN University Network (AUN), ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO), Science and Technology Division of ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Japan Science Technology Agency (JST) shared their knowledge exchange which was also appreciated by the RE-SSN focal points.

At the RE-SSN annual meeting itself, on Thursday, 30 July 2020, the results from this FGD was presented by Sergey Makarov (the Principal Advisor of AGEP Phase II) to the RE-SSN focal points and other Dialogue Partners/International Organisations. ACE also conveyed their gratitude for the long-standing support provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Moving forward, AGEP will be polishing the framework and ensuring its readiness for next year’s RE-SSN annual meeting hosted by Cambodia. (MW)