The 9th ANSO Governing Board (GB) Meeting Held in Thailand

ANSO Secretariat

31 12, 2024

On 11 December, the 9th ANSO Governing Board (GB) Meeting was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand, both on-site and online. Representatives from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK), the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA), the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS), the National Academy of Science and Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS), the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), and the National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt, were in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Sukit Limpijumnong, ANSO President and President of NSTDA, and co-chaired by Prof. HE Hongping, Vice President of CAS. Prof. Helena Bonciani Nader, ANSO Vice President and President of ABC, delivered her remarks via a pre-recorded video message.

During the meeting, several key documents were reviewed and discussed, including the ANSO Progress Report 2024, the List of ANSO Membership Applications, the Proposal on Amendments to the ANSO Statutes, the Proposal on the Modification of ANSO’s Vision and Mission, and the Draft Regulations on the Use and Management of ANSO’s Name, Logo, and Internet Domain. Among the key outcomes of the meeting, nine membership applications were endorsed, and will be submitted to the next General Assembly (GA) for approval. Additionally, amendments to the ANSO Statutes were endorsed, and modifications to ANSO’s Vision and Mission were also approved, both of which will be refined further and submitted to the next GA. The Draft Regulations on the Use of and Management of ANSO’s Name, Logo, and Internet Domain was approved to promote ANSO’s global branding and safeguard intellectual property assets.

Discussions during the meeting emphasized ANSO’s progress in 2024. Notable achievements included an increase in membership to 77 organizations from 52 countries, successful participation in 15 international events, and a continued focus on South-South cooperation and global food security through programs like CropWatch-ICP. The substantial results in scholarships, fellowships, and funded research projects, and the conference program were reported in detail, highlighting ANSO’s strong commitment to capacity building and fostering global partnerships. The Governing Board agreed that the 4th GA will take place in Beijing in late October 2025.

Throughout the discussion session, all GB members shared their insights, commended the ANSO Secretariat’s efforts, and offered valuable feedback on the agenda items under consideration. Prof. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, elaborated on the importance of fostering regional exchanges and cooperation to address shared challenges and advance sustainability efforts. Prof. Nebojša Lalić, the Secretary General of SASA, invited members to participate in and support the World Conference on Science and Art for Sustainability, to be held in Serbia in September 2025, as a flagship event of the UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.

Prof. Sukit Limpijumnong, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the GB members for their unwavering dedication to ANSO’s vision of fostering global collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. Prof. HE Hongping, reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to supporting ANSO through both financial and institutional resources. Prof. Helena B. Nader, commended ANSO’s critical role in fostering collaboration globally. Newly appointed GB representative and President of TÜBİTAK, Orhan Aydin, emphasized TÜBİTAK’s commitment to ANSO’s mission and expressed readiness to collaborate on scientific and technological initiatives that align with ANSO’s goals.

The 9th Governing Board Meeting reinforced ANSO’s role as a global platform for scientific cooperation and set the stage for further collaborative efforts and initiatives in the coming year.