1. Eligibility

This year, the award features two distinctions (there is no age restriction, but a duplicate application will become invalid).

• Next ASEAN Innovator
  The applicant must:

•       be a citizen of an ASEAN Member State;

•       be a professional with less than 5 years (01 Jan 2021) of working experience after earning a Ph.D.;

•       have no record in the past two years (01 Jan 2024)  of receiving an award organized or supported by ASEAN, in the field of science and engineering

• ASEAN-ROK STI Pioneer
  The applicant must:

•        be a citizen of an ASEAN Member State;

•        be currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Korea; or

•        be a professional whose completion of a doctoral program in Korea is less than 5 years (01 Jan 2021)  ; or

•        be a professional whose completion of a doctoral program is less than 5 years (01 Jan 2021)  and has significant research collaboration experience (e.g. post-doctoral programme, etc.) with Korea; and

•        have no record in the past two years (01 Jan 2024) of receiving an award organized or supported by ASEAN, in the field of science and engineering

2. Award

The winner of each distinction will be awarded:

           •       Minister award from MSIT

           •      Cash prize of US $12,000

           •      Invitation to attend the ASEAN-ROK STI Training Programme in Korea to present and share their work 
                  (airfare and accommodation provided).

3. Application Process

Applicant must submit the required documents complete in every respect to STEPI via email at (aseanrokaward@stepi.re.kr) with copy to ASEAN Science and Technology Division(snt@asean.org) by 24 July 2026.

Please refer to the official link for further details.

           •  Official link: https://bit.ly/8th_aseanrokaward2026

Should you have any further inquiries regarding the award, please contact STEPI via email at aseanrokaward@stepi.re.kr