1. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Scientific and Technical Information System [SIST] Support the planning and development of information and communication systems for education and research institutions A project from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Priority Solidarity Fund Joël Sor - Cirad www.sist-sciencedev.net

2. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Starting point : Research in the south One statement : African Research is extremely low in the international scientific field 0,4 % of the web content (0,02% without RSA) Analyses from Roland Waast (IRD) “Science condition in Africa”

3. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Starting point : Poorness of access to STI  An increasing marginalization of southern research on international visibility ( 0,7 % of worldwide publications).  Productions of its teams remain too thinly spread

4. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Starting point : A lack of communication  Worldwide renown researcher teams exist...  … but they really are lacking of appropriate means This situation is one of the major constraint to sustainable development in Africa.

5. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System SIST Objectives Improve and share knowledge and experiences Promote existing and ongoing results Build regional research networks Introduce African research in international networks. Contribute to the reduction of the digital and technological divide (NEPAD priority) Part of the French contribution to the WSIS Constraints: Fast implementation Operational, simple and pragmatique device (bandwidth) Technical, functional and financial autonomy of countries after the project A geometrically variable structure that is transferable to the rest of African countries 3 years, 3 M €, 12 countries

6. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Participating Countries

7. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System 2004 Actions Official launching meeting in March Project Website : www.sist-sciencesdev.net 4 regional sensitization-training workshop (AUF) Project Scientific Committee CODC in 8 countries Technical National Partner in 7 countries Country studies in 8 countries (network) Partnerships (Cirad, FAO, AUF, IRD, INASP, AAB…)

8. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System 2005 Actions SIST platform V1 available Access to partners databases (FAO, CIRAD, WHO, INASP, AUF, CNRS …) 3 pilots sites : Algeria, Ghana and Madagascar Sensitization and training Access to STI from African countries WSIS participation Steering Committee Platform installed in every participating country

9. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System 3 – Technical composition of the device Linux Federated Research Module SPIP-AGORA-SIST Server Network SPIP-AGORA a modular device in layers totally open usable for other functions outside the SIST context ApacheMySqlPhp Size of SIST Website Diverse Websites Changes in SIST Websites National SIST Website www.sist-sciencesdev.net Users Decision- Making Committee Computer Scientists Webmasters Variable Elements Elements of Free Software Elements added by SIST to the free Software Local Databases Scientists

10. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Technical limits –Network available in each country – main server hosted by Cirad (FR) Financial –Agreement with commercial editors –Access to bandwidth

11. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System The main developments considered are : Automated dissemination of SIST site contents to other websites ( creation of RSS lines) Device for selective information dissemination (from a recorded research equation, periodic dissemination of results via the message system, via RSS lines, or via the supply of web pages on the SIST. Harvesting of OAI (collection OAI metadata and exploitation via federated research module) Creation of centralised directory of experts Access control mechanism for sensitive database (Hinari, Agora) New connectors to the federated research ( LDAP directory) Improving the federated research module (post research relevant sorting, removal of “doublons”...) Exportation of federated research findings under other formats (XML, Word, Excel, Endnote …) Putting in place Blog and wiki tools in the collaborative work space ….. BANDWIDTH 5 – Perspectives, evolutions

12. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Contexte international Europe Réseaux Recherche : Internet : SFINX (peering) Paris Lyon Corée : TEIN puis TEIN-2 Amérique dont Internet 2 Asie Pacifique Amérique Latine : Bassin Méditerranéen:

13. -SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System Thank you Joel.sor@cirad.fr agaschignard@fara-africa.org thierry.helmer@cirad.fr www.sist-sciencesdev.net Thank you