APEC Study Centers (ASCs) are institutions that foster research and academic discussions supporting the broader APEC mission of regional economic integration and which are a means to building networks of academic professionals in the region. 

Each of the 21 member economies hosts centers. Today there are more than 70 ASCs, and together they form the APEC Study Centers Consortium (ASCC).

The ASCC holds an annual conference hosted by one of the centers in the APEC Host Economy for the year. The annual conference provides an opportunity for academics and scholars from around the region to discuss their research and identify areas for collaboration.

ASCs were part of the vision set out by APEC Leaders in 1993 when they launched the “APEC Leaders' Education Initiative.” The initiative called on APEC members to foster regional cooperation among tertiary and research institutes to promote greater academic collaboration on key regional economic challenges.

ASCs are independent from APEC and their functions. Funding arrangements are not uniform. Financial support is provided through both public and private funding, and research topics are usually chosen by individual study centers, which assures their independence and flexibility, ensuring the integrity of the ASC process.

APEC Study Centers Consortium Conference 2018

Researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region convened and shared their analyses on APEC issues at the 2018 ASCC Conference hosted by the National Research Institute (NRI) of Papua New Guinea on 14–15 May 2018 in Port Moresby.

The conference aimed to support the overall objectives of Papua New Guinea’s APEC 2018 and offered an opportunity for APEC’s network of researchers, practitioners and policy makers to inform and influence public policy for APEC member economies by examining in depth the theme and priorities of APEC 2018.

The ASCC 2018 Conference focused on four priority areas:

• Innovation and Technology
• Digitalization
• Regional Economic Integration and Connectivity
• Structural Reform and Competition

APEC Study Centers Consortium Conference 2018’s programs and report can be found here. For more information, please contact the ASCC 2018 Chair Office.

The next annual ASCC Conference will be hosted by Chile in Valparaíso-Viña del Mar on 6 May 2019.