Promoting Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Developing Countries: Challenges, Opportunities and Action Mohamed H.A. Hassan Executive Director, TWAS, Trieste, Italy President, AAS, Nairobi, Kenya International UNESCO/ICSU/TWAS Symposium on the Follow-up of WCS: Harnessing Science for Society: Further Partnerships 2-5 March 2005, Venice, Italy

2 Overview  Problems and Challenges  Opportunities  Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships

3 Problems and Challenges  How to reduce the growing disparities between countries and regions in production and utilization of STI?

4 Disparities: North-South Population80 % Researchers28 % R&D Expenditure20 % S&T Publications12 % Technology Innovation (patents)2 % The South's Share

5 Disparities: South-South Overall number of SCI papers

6 Disparities: South-South SCI-Listed Publications in Nanotechnology (January-August 2004) CountryPublications 1China3,621 2USA3,182 3Japan3,010 4Germany2,075 5France1,330 6South Korea1,263 7United Kingdom941 8Russia856 9Italy758 10India647

7 Disparities: South-South – within Africa African output of ISI-listed scientific papers (1.5% of world output)

8 Disparities: South-South – within Africa African patents listed by US Patent and Trademark Office ( ) Country% of patents South Africa92 Egypt3.0 Kenya1.3 Nigeria1.3 Morocco0.8 Other1.6

9 Disparities: South-South – within country Impact of past policies: South Africa's research output (%)

10 Problems and Challenges  How to reduce the growing disparities between countries and regions in production and utilization of STI?  How to elevate the status of science education and research in least developed countries (LDC)?

11 Problems and Challenges  How to reduce the growing disparities between countries and regions in production and utilization of STI?  How to elevate the status of science education and research in least developed countries (LDC)?  How to train and retain a critical mass of highly qualified problem- solving scientists?

12 Problems and Challenges  How to reduce the growing disparities between countries and regions in production and utilization of STI?  How to elevate the status of science education and research in least developed countries (LDC)?  How to train and retain a critical mass of highly qualified problem-solving scientists?  How to build and maintain strong institutions of excellence for scientific research and education?

13 Problems and Challenges  How to reduce the growing disparities between countries and regions in production and utilization of STI?  How to elevate the status of science education and research in least developed countries (LDC)?  How to train and retain a critical mass of highly qualified problem-solving scientists?  How to build and maintain strong institutions of excellence for scientific research and education?  How to build a strong case for increasing investment in STI?

14 Opportunities  Rich biodiversity, natural resources, traditional knowledge  Applications of new technologies  Biotechnologies  Information and communication technologies  New materials (incl. nanotech)  Growth of STI in several developing countries and new opportunities for increased South-South cooperation

15 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making 5. Increasing funding for STI

16 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems  Commitment by national governments to support higher education  At least one world-class autonomous university in each country  Strong commitment to attain and maintain highly qualified staff and staff promotion based on merit

17 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems  Innovative methods of teaching to produce new generations of problem- solving S&T talent with good knowledge of social problems  Twinning arrangements between universities in different countries: staff and student exchange, sharing of experiences and best practices

18 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems  Efforts to upgrade and reform universities in S&T-lagging countries, especially in Africa  Commitment by large developing countries (Brazil, China, India, …) to support training of postgraduates in S&T-lagging countries

19 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making 5. Increasing funding for STI

20 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence  Centres of excellence take different forms:  Research groups within universities or research institutions  National centres of excellence  Regional centres of excellence  International centres of excellence

21 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence  Establish a number of centres of excellence in each country within universities or research institutions  Focus on upgrading existing competent institutions  Ensure institutional autonomy and sustained funding

22 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence  Maintain leadership of international quality: merit-based hiring and promotion  Focused research agenda addressing local, regional and global issues  Networks of centres of excellence to address specific problems

23 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making 5. Increasing funding for STI

24 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education  Establish an Internet-based 'bulletin board' listing programmes of various organizations and funding opportunities, to act as a central information source for students and researchers in developing countries, and to promote greater coordination of the activities of donor agencies

25 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education  Assist in providing research and training centres of excellence in developing countries with adequate ICT infrastructure to facilitate online dissemination of information about their activities

26 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education  Assist in providing universities and research institutions in developing countries (especially in LDC) with affordable and reliable Internet connections to ensure access to information on centres of excellence and opportuninties for education and research collaboration

27 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education 4. Influencing public policy and decision-making 5. Increasing funding for STI

28 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making  Engage S&T leadership in formulating national science policy and major national, regional or global development initiatives (e.g., NEPAD, Commission for Africa)

29 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making  Academies of science to provide independent, objective and unbiased advice on scientific issues of importance

30 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making  Establish "World Sustainability Forum": Periodic high-level event involving scientists, development practitioners and decision-makers

31 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 1. Reforming higher education systems 2. Establishing, strengthening and maintaining centres of excellence 3. Harnessing ICT to promote research and education 4. Influencing public policy and decision- making 5. Increasing funding for STI

32 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 5. Increasing funding for STI  Increase national funding for R&D to at least 1% of GDP (UNESCO, WB, IAC)  Establish – through national foundations or research councils – schemes to support STI on the basis of merit and competition

33 Action UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS partnerships 5. Increasing funding for STI  Increase funding for organizations and programmes supporting competent researchers and research groups in poor countries (IFS, ISP, TWAS, ICSU, TWOWS, ICTP, IBSP, …)

Thank you for your attention Mohamed H.A. Hassan Executive Director, TWAS, Trieste, Italy President, AAS, Nairobi, Kenya