SciDev.Net

More funding and freedoms are needed if the Arab world is to reach its goal of becoming a knowledge-based society, a report finds.

A farming research centre is set to open in Mozambique with funding, seeds and advice from China.

African countries lack data on the effect climate change will have on water supplies, scientists said at Africa Water Week.

Funds have fallen and the future is "worrying", the AU's science chief told the TWAS meeting, but some countries gave confident reports.

The academy of sciences for the developing world unveiled ambitious funding hopes at its general meeting in South Africa.

Failure to secure rights over joint research data is preventing African researchers from getting ahead, a meeting has heard.

Developing countries are spending more on R&D and have invested in many more scientists, according to UNESCO figures.

An awards ceremony recognising Arab women scientists has enabled many to meet face-to-face for the first time.

Kenya has maintained second place in Sub-Saharan Africa innovation rankings while other African countries have shown improvement.

Despite an increase in the number of science professionals in China, there is considerable dissatisfaction with their status and conditions.

Senegal is pushing ahead with plans to open a postgraduate maths institute as part of a continent-wide drive to see the discipline blossom.

The first funds for Algeria's US$1.4 billion science and technology programme have been released.

The WHO has begun an accreditation scheme for laboratories to ensure that diagnosis on the continent improves.

A Pakistani development plan has criticised the country's mass PhD production, and says that the system needs rethinking.

Colombia has struck a deal with Microsoft to improve technology access, create internships and establish a bioinformatics centre.

Decade-long funding will give 24 African think tanks the opportunity for long-term, rather than isolated, analysis.

A new US$49 million initiative aims to strengthen health research capacity across Africa — and will put African researchers in charge.

Malawi's newly re-elected president has plans for science and technology, including a new commission to coordinate research.

A scheme to tempt Chinese nationals back from overseas must screen applicants better to attract the best scientists, a meeting has heard.

Morocco is investing more in science with plans to make universities financially independent and upgrade the scientific infrastructure.