Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) Dr. Yongsuk Jang
1.
What is the mission and mandate of your Committee?
The Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) is responsible for encouraging co‑operation among Members and with Partners in the field of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, with the views to : • contributing to the achievement of economic, social and scientific aims, including growth and the creation of jobs, sustainable development, improved well-being of their citizens and advancing the frontiers of knowledge, and • integrating STI policy with other aspects of government policy, which is of increasing importance in the development of increasingly globalised knowledge economies. 2. You have been designated Committee Chair. What is your background and what has convinced you to take up this post? How do you consider your background and experience contribute to such a role and function? I am a policy analyst by training in the field of science, technology and innovation policy. I am currently a senior research fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) of Korea, whose main mission is to analyse policy options and shape policies for promoting STI at the national and global level. With such expertise, I have had a rich experience over a couple of decades in initiating various domestic STI policies, advising many developing countries, and collaborating with various international organisations including the OECD. Such expertise and experience in STI policies have equipped me with the necessary background to actively engage in the CSTP discussions. While representing Korea as a delegate to recognised the need for higher-level discussions on STI policy issues for inclusive and sustainable growth in response to the 2008 global economic crisis. I spearheaded discussions on a CSTP meeting at the ministerial level, which resulted in Korea hosting the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Daejeon, Korea in 2015 that led to the Daejeon Declaration, the most recent and important global standard for STI policies. Following that, I joined the CSTP Bureau as a Vice-Chair for six years and volunteered to stand for the CSTP Chair in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. My background and experience have helped me to stir sound discussions among member countries on establishing an effective STI policy agenda toward resilient, inclusive and sustainable future. 3. What is your main priority as Chair? My top priorities as the CSTP Chair are twofold; one is to encourage member and partner countries to share their STI policy experience and identify lessons from each other and another is to extend and strengthen the relationship between CSTP and other international fora and non-member countries in order to promote international STI co-operation to the greatest extent.
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