CANBERRA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Australia's peak scientific body has identified the seven industries in Southeast Asia that will "fuel future regional growth, international collaboration and job creation."
The Sunrise Industries report was released by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's Data61 on Friday to coincide with the beginning of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Summit in Sydney.
It found that artificial intelligence (AI) systems, financial services technology, high value nutrition, next generation energy storage, cyber-physical systems security, personal health and ageing and digital infrastructure and connectivity were the seven key industries for the future of the region.
Larry Marshall, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CSIRO, said that the world's economic center was moving eastwards with the 10 nations that comprise ASEAN having an average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.6 percent in 2016 compared to the global average of 3.2 percent.
He said that the ASEAN region could be the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030.
Marshall said that as one of the ASEAN region's closest neighbors, Australia was perfectly placed to capitalize on the economic growth.
"Each of these opportunities is strongly supported by breakthrough Australian science, giving the potential for enormous economic benefit as we help ASEAN countries make this transition," Marshall said of the seven industries in a media release on Friday.
"To catalyse Australian innovation we need to think beyond our traditional boundaries and adapt a global vision.
"In particular, we need to push the envelope when it comes to collaborative research and development with our ASEAN neighbors.
"As part of CSIRO's Strategy 2020, we are increasing our focus on global partnerships to drive Australian innovation across the entire region."