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.

In conjunction with the hosting of APEC 2020, the Malaysian APEC Study Centre convened a webinar, the e-APEC Study Consortium Conference 2020 (e-ASCCC 2020), on 23 September 2020.

The theme for e-ASCCC 2020 was “Towards an Inclusive, Sustainable Growth and Shared Prosperity Post-Pandemic.” Featuring more than 20 speakers, the conference featured panel sessions touching on these topics:

1. Improving the narrative of trade and investment

2. Inclusive economic participation through digital economy and technology

3. Driving innovative sustainability

It concluded with a roundtable discussion on the direction for the APEC post-2020 vision in a post-COVID-19 environment.

The program and abstracts from e-ASCCC 2020 are available here.