AIGF (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, India, along with 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS), was prominently represented by 200 participants at the 4th edition of the annual ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) launched in Langkawi, Malaysia.

ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF)

• About: The annual program is a collaboration between the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI); Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India; National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India and the Science and Technology Ministry of the host nation, Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
• Focus: On fostering a strengthened relationship between India and AMS on the premise of cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). 
• Aim: To give exposure to social innovations in different countries, it also strengthens governance in the grassroots innovation ecosystem.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• Established: In 1967, by the Bangkok Declaration.
• Type:  A political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia.
• Members: Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
• Objective: It promotes inter-governmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration between its members and countries in the Asia-Pacific.
• Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.