The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the imperative of global collaboration in preparing for and responding to crises. High-Performance Computing (HPC) has become a pivotal component in Life Sciences and Health research, with Europe emerging as a leader in the field. This feasibility study explores the potential for Europe to support the development and adoption of HPC technologies in the ASEAN region. The study involved an analysis of the current HPC infrastructure in the EU and ASEAN, identification of key stakeholders, assessment of collaborative feasibility, and recommendations for joint utilization of resources and knowledge transfer for Covid-19 research.

The results reveal Europe's substantial investment and development in HPC, with an extensive range of systems, skilled personnel, robust research communities, and collaborative initiatives. These resources can significantly benefit ASEAN. However, the ASEAN region exhibits diverse levels of HPC development, with Singapore and Thailand leading, and others, like the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Viet Nam, making efforts to enhance infrastructure. Nonetheless, some areas lack adequate scientific computing and ICT integration, posing challenges for regional HPC development.

Close collaboration with Europe could rapidly advance HPC development in ASEAN. The recommended thematic areas include demonstrating HPC's success in health research, basic infrastructure management, HPC system usage, advanced HPC for Life Science research, and the science of Covid-19. Short-term actions (1~1.5 years) and a long-term strategy (3~5 years) are proposed across dissemination, HPC and data resource sharing, training, and expertise exchange. To facilitate these initiatives, the formation of a workgroup comprising key experts is suggested for program design and action implementation aligned with the proposed strategy.