The Southeast Asian (SEA) region is one of the most dynamic in the world. It is in
a period of transition as its national economies become strongly integrated into global
knowledge networks. Science and technology (S&T) offer opportunities for countries
to ‘move up the value chain’. A better understanding of existing capabilities helps
enhance mutually beneficial S&T and innovation co-operation between SEA and OECD countries.
This review provides a quantitative and qualitative assessment of Southeast Asian
countries’ capacity in S&T and innovation. A regional synthesis highlights current
performance and intra- and extra-regional knowledge circulation, including flows between
the Southeast Asian region and the established centres of knowledge production such
as the EU, Japan and the United States. The country profiles describe the dynamics
of national innovation systems and their relation to international knowledge flows,
taking into account the wider framework conditions for innovation.