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Science & Innovation Policy

Editorials

Here is a list of the latest articles

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Good, and bad, news on the 'science gap'

New figures on research spending show that the gap between rich and poor countries is closing — but not fast enough.

9 October 2009 | EN | ES | 中文

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UNESCO must reclaim science leadership

Will UNESCO's likely new head have the vision to deliver much-needed change in the organisation — especially in its science programmes?

25 September 2009 | EN | 中文

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Rhetoric and instability stunt Latin American science

A majority of Latin American countries suffer from worthy talk but little stable R&D funding. Long-term strategies should be a priority.

3 September 2009 | EN | ES

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The curse of policy-based evidence

Journalists and scientists must guard against policymakers using science to legitimise pre-chosen and politically-motivated policies.

13 August 2009 | EN | ES | 中文

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Systems of innovation: Their time has come

Academics have long argued for developing countries to adopt "systems of innovation". Now it looks like politicians have got the message.

31 July 2009 | EN | ES

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The limits of science diplomacy

Using science for diplomatic purposes has obvious attractions and several benefits. But there are limits to what it can achieve.

4 June 2009 | EN | ES | 中文

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The real 'two cultures' divide

An influential lecture on the cultural significance of science remains as relevant today as when it was delivered 50 years ago.

21 May 2009 | EN | ES | 中文

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India's politicians are not talking science

India's general election is becoming a lost opportunity to set out a science policy for development.

1 May 2009 | EN

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Long-term solutions needed to feed the world's poor

More agricultural research funding and a farmer-centred approach to boosting food production are needed to prevent future food emergencies.

17 April 2009 | EN | 中文

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Contract and converge: The path to sustainable growth

This week's G20 summit in London must ensure that any solution to the global financial crisis also commits to sustainable economic growth.

2 April 2009 | EN | FR | 中文

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Airing unequal health research partnerships

A meeting in Berlin brought unequal health research partnerships into the open — but will its framework kick-start progress or gather dust?

27 March 2009 | EN | 中文

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What role for higher education in development?

With higher education returning to the aid agenda, SciDev.Net examines the successes, challenges and lessons to be learnt.

11 March 2009 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

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Japan integrates aid and scientific cooperation

Japan is the latest country to give scientific cooperation with developing countries a higher profile in its foreign aid policies.

6 March 2009 | EN | 中文

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Zimbabwe: Hope in a time of cholera

Zimbabwe's new science minister faces a daunting task in rebuilding his country's scientific capacity. He deserves all the help he can get.

20 February 2009 | EN

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Time to rethink intellectual property laws?

Patents on scientific knowledge may not be as useful — or valuable — as many claim them to be.

23 January 2009 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

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2009: Will a crisis turn into an opportunity?

Science can help developing countries facing commodity-price and climate turmoil: the biggest challenge is how to ensure it does.

9 January 2009 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

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India's top science institute must now tackle social needs

The Indian Institute of Science is a shining example of how a developing country can do basic science, but it needs to link its research more to social needs.

23 December 2008 | EN

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'Right to science' deserves more support

We must clarify the 'human right' to science — and remind governments of their contractual obligation to uphold it.

10 December 2008 | EN | FR | 中文

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Academies have no-one to fear but themselves

Science academies in the developing world must engage with the real world if they want to influence policy.

28 November 2008 | EN | ES | FR

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The world's poor deserve better US leadership

The US election has implications for science and foreign aid policy, and so for the poorest people across the developing world.

31 October 2008 | EN | ES | FR | 中文