Output
1) Workshop 1 : Cloud-Ready Workforce Training and Public-Private Partnerships for Workforce Skilling
POs request implementing multiple project events because we believethat the topics are unique enough for individual workshops and will allow for more digestible information sharing and a deeper dive into each topic area. The focus of each workshop was informed by discussions during past workshops on cloud and responses from post-workshop surveys, where participants also emphasized the desire to deep dive into related topics.
These topics of workforce training, energy policy for cloud, and data protection have previously been included as sessions in past cloud workshops but participants overwhelmingly noted a desire to explore these specific topics further which informed the development of our project. We included a time period of more than 12 months based on past experience of implementing four workshops on cloud which were implemented from 2023-2025. The timeline includes consideration for the APEC project approval timeline and allows for POs to connect with economy representatives and expert speakers to develop high-quality workshops with impact. We believe this will allow for momentum to be built around the topic while continuing to build out APEC’s work in this area.
The first workshop will be a one-day (8 hour), in-person, APEC-wide capacity building workshop will be scheduled in the first half of 2026. The event provides a platform to engage with experts and exchange information on workforce training for a cloud-based economy including how to best leverage public private partnerships.
DRAFT Agenda in format Session Topic / Session Format:
- Introduction / Definition of purpose and goals by US team
- Approaches to Workforce Training by the Private Sector and Academia / Expert panel and Q&A
- Public Private Partnerships for Skilling the Digital Demand / Expert panel and Q&A
- Interactive session: demo of cloud skills course / Practical exercise led byexpert
- Reflection session / Expert-facilitated recap of workshop and time for Q&A
Post-workshop survey / Time for online or physical surveycompletion
2) Workshop 2: Energy Policy Alignment with Cloud Energy Demand
he one-day (8-hour), in-person, APEC-wide capacity building workshop will be scheduled in the second half of 2026. The event provides an opportunity to engage with experts and exchange lessons on how align energy policies with cloud energy demand, balancing regulatory and pro- innovation priorities. The agenda is anticipated to include topics including contextualizing the need to align domestic and regional energy policies with cloud infrastructure energy demands; enabling policy environments for advancing cloud adoption with topics including competitive energy markets, and policies that promote energy efficiency among cloud service providers. The sessions may be adapted or added to the final agenda.
Participants will be encouraged to consider whether shared approaches could be adapted and applied within their own domestic contexts.
DRAFT Agenda in format Session Topic / Session Format:
- Introduction / Definition of purpose and goals by US team
- Challenges to Digital Infrastructure and the Cloud Energy Demand / Expert presentation and Q&A
- Data Infrastructure and its Impact on Resources / Expert panel and Q&A
- Case study - Policiesfor Reliable DigitalInfrastructure / Breakoutgroup discussions
- Reflection session / Expert-facilitated recap of workshop and time for Q&A
Post-workshop survey / Time for online or physical surveycompletion
3) Workshop 3: Mechanisms for Data Protection and Cross-Border Data Flows in Cloud Transformation
The one-day (8-hour), in-person, APEC-wide capacity building workshop will be scheduled in the first half of 2027. The Workshop fosters engagement with experts and knowledge exchange on secure and trusted movement of data across borders as a cloud enabler.
DRAFT Agenda in format Session Topic / Session Format:
- Introduction / Definition of purpose and goals by US team
- APEC Economy Approaches to Data Protection and Cross-Border Data Flows / Expert panel andQ&A
- The Regulatory Landscape for Cross-Border Data Flows / Expert panel andQ&A
- Building Responses to Cloud Outages / Expert panel and Q&A
- Opportunities and Challenges for Cross-Border Data Flows in Cloud / Expert-led group brainstorming
- Reflection session / Expert-facilitated recap of workshop and time for Q&A
Post-workshop survey / Time for online or physical surveycompletion
4) Consolidated Workshop Summary Report
The consolidated workshop summary report will be produced by the PO after the three workshops, compiling outcomes, best practices, and recommendations. The consolidated workshop summary report will be about 5-7 pages in length and drafted as a supplementary resource to be uploaded to the APEC Meeting Document Database. The report contents will include summary of presentations and key takeaways from group discussions and/or broader themes that emerged.
Outcome
1) Enhanced participant knowledge, awareness, and understanding: This project features workshops that bring together APEC members to engage in peer-to-peer and expert-led learning that will lead to policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders gaining a deeper understanding of the legal, regulatory, technical, energy, and economic considerations surrounding cloud transformation. Participants will better understand how cloud computing offers governments, businesses, and individuals significant security, efficiency, and productivity gains. They will be aware that to capitalize on those gains, it is critical that policies and regulations are updated, operations are modernized, and talent is re- and upskilled. The workshop will enable APEC economies to take a more informed approach to policy development and cloud implementation, building on effective recommendations already identified and agreed upon by TEL. The Post-workshop survey forms will collect participant views on the relevance and utility of the workshops to their specific roles.
2) Recommendations adopted for strengthened policy, regulation, and initiatives: The workshops will offer APEC policymakers, regulators, and practitioners with experience-based and expert-informed recommendations to develop and implement pro-innovation policies, regulations, and initiatives that promote cloud adoption. The consolidated workshop summary report will contain recommendations, which aim to drive practical, pro- innovation actions that support increased cloud adoption across APEC. The policy and regulatory changes and specific initiatives in workforce readiness, energy efficiency, and cross-border data flows and protection that occur after the project will be tracked through the one-year follow-up surveys, offering a concrete measure of the project’s impact. The one-year follow-up surveys will be conducted by the project overseers through an online form platform and sent to workshop participants to gain further insights on application of training areas and interest in future initiatives. The results will be analyzed and be used by project overseers to inform future activities in this area. Future project proposals will note which topic areas arise from the results of the follow-up survey.
3) Intersectoral collaboration: The workshops will enable collaboration among diverse APEC stakeholders including from government, cloud, energy, and ICT industries, academia, and civil society. Through convening these diverse perspectives, showcasing varied cloud transformation experiences and applications, and enabling interactive learning, the workshops will promote collaboration towards innovative cloud technology solutions, partnerships, and initiatives aimed at accelerating economic growth through effective cloud-readiness and adoption. The Post-workshop survey forms will highlight intersectoral and innovative collaboration.
Beneficiaries
Workshop participation will be invited from TELWG members and interested non- members (agreed by economies), members of other relevant APEC fora (see “Linkages” section below), industry representatives, and other interested parties from APEC economies. To ensure far reaching outcomes, target participants will include a mix of individuals with technical, managerial, and policymaking roles namely representatives from ministries of ICT and of Energy; private sector cloud industry; academia specializing in digital transformation, energy efficiency, cloud computing, and digital skills; and civil society organizations working in digital skills. The project aims to be inclusive of all economies regardless of technological advancement or economic development. Beneficiaries will be engaged in the workshop as speakers or by sharing best practices and use cases on cloud adoption, management, and implementation. The PO will strongly encourage APEC members to nominate and select suitably skilled and qualified individuals as participants.
