Emerging technologies offer opportunities to improve how the Asia-Pacific lives and works and to boost the region’s productivity. AI, augmented reality, biotechnology, and blockchain technology are anticipated to revolutionize fields as diverse as agriculture, healthcare, and finance. Emerging technologies present a regulatory challenge, however. The development and commercialization of technology need a supportive regulatory ecosystem.

Policymakers and other stakeholders must manage this delicate balance for emerging technologies. If risks are not properly managed, then disastrous consequences could affect the health and well-being of society. This is challenging because of the degree of scientific uncertainty surrounding them and their use and continued development, resulting in regulatory ambiguity. Historically, regulation has evolved reactively around relatively mature industries. Given the need for proactive measures, regulating emerging technologies will require a more modern approach. Regulation must be outcome focused, involve experimentation, and the result of multiple-stakeholder collaboration. Governments must work with academia, industry, and civil society to compensate for their own technical shortcomings. This will be particularly important in the Asia-Pacific region, where technology trends like automation are set to disrupt major industries like textiles.

This course will offer practical examples and explanations of regulatory approaches to emerging technologies. Participants will be able to examine how these approaches relate to their own industry contexts to improve productivity and safeguard societal well-being.

Course Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:

• Enhance knowledge of the principles, mechanisms, and practices of regulating emerging technologies.
  
• Learn about policies on regulating emerging technologies in APO members and elsewhere for improving innovation, competitiveness, and welfare.
• Understand the rationale behind regulating emerging technologies to both propel development and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of society.

Course Modules

This e-learning course will cover the following modules: 
Module 1: Overview of emerging technology and regulation 
Module 2: Agile governance and regulatory models for emerging technologies 
Module 3: Data and privacy in the digital age 
Module 4: Governance of AI and algorithms 
Module 5: Regulation of gene editing and biotechnology

Important Notes

1. Participants who register to take this course and pass the final examination with a score of 70% or higher will be eligible to receive the APO certificate. Please note that the final examination can be taken only once. Therefore, the most appropriate time to take the examination should be chosen carefully. The self-assessment quizzes are for personal evaluation only and are not related to the final examination results.
2. Participants who perform well in this course and receive the APO certificate will be given preference, on a merit basis, for selection to attend follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects on similar topics, when nominated by their NPOs and if slots are available.
3. Notes 1 and 2 are applicable only to participants from APO member countries. Participants from nonmember countries are welcome to take the course for self-improvement, although they will not have an opportunity to attend the follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects.
4. Each module is in a prerecorded video format in which the expert delivers presentations by explaining each slide. Participants can access the video by clicking on the link provided under the title of each module.