VIENTIANE -- The National University of Laos (NUOL) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) agreed to cooperate in digital innovation and sustainable economic development.

An agreement was signed by Vice President of the NUOL Phouphet Kyophilavong, and Chief Operating Officer of ERIA Koji Hachiyama, to work together to fulfill the aims of the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Center (E-DISC), according to a report released by the university on Friday.

The agreement, signed in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday, set out a framework for collaboration between the two sides. The collaboration aims to foster strong relationships with academics at the university and jointly work on digital innovation and sustainable economic development using E-DISC as the platform.

The two sides agreed to partner in areas such as promoting joint research in technology and digital innovation by providing ERIA with country information and research findings from individual countries and giving advice to ERIA's research team and policy recommendations.

The ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Center will promote new ways of human resource development for the digital era in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia region.