His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the establishment of the Council for Research and the Advancement of Technology and Science (CREATES) effective of 10th April 2021.
CREATES will be replacing and taking over the responsibilities of two previous bodies. The first being the Brunei Research Council (BRC) that was initially established in 1987 and is primarily tasked with supporting research work that can contribute to the economic development of the country. The second being the National Committee on Science and Technology that was established in 1994 and was primarily responsible with identifying and formulating advances in science and technology that are in line with the economic and social development in Brunei Darussalam.
The council is chaired by Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, and membership includes Permanent Secretaries from various Ministries, as well as key stakeholders from Institutes of Higher Learning and the private sector. The Council is also supported by two working committees: Evaluation and Approval Working Committee and Implementation Monitoring Working Committee.
The establishment of CREATES will help to support the development and growth of Science, Technology and Innovation activities in Brunei Darussalam, driving economic and social development towards realizing the vision of Wawasan 2035 to have educated and highly skilled people, a high quality of life, and a dynamic and sustainable economy.