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Science & Innovation Policy

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Developing countries are increasingly recognising the importance of science in developing their economies, and the challenges that entails.

Research initiatives/academic groups

Displaying 21-40 of 87 links

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology researches the political, economic, humanitarian and military issues involved in the development of nanotechnology, and disseminates information relating to these issues. The centre runs an online network of people involved and interested in the issues. The site is available in Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese, in addition to English.

Center for science diplomacy

The Center for Science Diplomacy, housed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), advocates the use of science and scientific cooperation to promote international understanding and prosperity. It publishes and links to articles and reports about science diplomacy and possible best practices. It hosts related events and conferences to put science diplomacy into action.

Center on Public Diplomacy

The Center on Public Diplomacy, at the University of Southern California, is a research and professional training organisation dedicated to advancing the study and practice of global public diplomacy. It runs several projects, including one examining the role of science in resolving foreign policy challenges. The centre publishes books, reports and commentary articles on public and science diplomacy and organises relevant events.

Centre for Innovation, Knowledge and Development

The IKD is an interdisciplinary organisation made up of six research groups from the Open University.

The groups work on topics related to knowledge creation and diffusion and sustainable development. These include capacity development, public-private partnerships, enterprise development and entrepreneurship and health, medical and agricultural biotechnology.

The IKD publishes working papers, runs a series of seminars and organises regular workshops and conferences.

CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF)

This programme aims to encourage better management of water for food production by increasing the resilience of social and ecological systems.

It does this by focusing on the interconnections between water, food and poverty in developing countries. The programme helps develop water-related innovations by bringing together scientists, development specialists, policymakers and communities.

The website publishes information on its research programmes and projects as well as blogs and related news, job vacancies and events.

Citizenship DRC : Science and citizenship

This website publishes information on how advances in science and new technologies challenge citizenship and invites debate about issues such as the nature of expertise and processes of public participation. It provides links to working papers and other documents, including original research.

The research programme is part of the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability (Citizenship DRC), which is based at the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. Citizenship DRC is made up of a network of researchers, policymakers, practitioners and institutional partners from more than 25 countries.

D-Lab

D-Lab, run by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is a programme of academic courses aimed at developing and implementing low-cost technologies to address poverty. Its approach is based on building partnerships and promoting capacity building, local innovation and indigenous knowledge.

The website contains information on its sixteen courses, and projects developed through the programme. Instructions on how to implement certain projects — such as making charcoal from agricultural waste — are also included.

 

Distance Learning for Development (DL4D)

Distance Learning for Development, coordinated by the London International Development Centre, provides distance learning postgraduate courses at the University of London in international development. Subject areas include health, food production, environment, education, water and sanitation.

The site is searchable by keywords and covers over 140 courses ranging from single modules to higher-level qualifications. Courses can contribute towards the completion of other qualifications such as postgraduate certificates, diplomas and masters degrees.

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative is an independent non-profit collaboration between organisations including the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, and Médecins sans Frontières that focuses on developing drugs for neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis.

DNDi harnesses existing research and development capacity to develop these drugs, and ensures they are accessible to the developing world.

There are extensive links to articles, publications and conference reports, many available for downloading, and a petition to support DNDi in its call to governments around the world to do more for neglected diseases.

Duke University: Center for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy

The Center for Genome Ethics, Law, & Policy - part of Duke University's Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy - was created to foster ethically responsible and socially beneficial uses of genome science, while addressing the complex ethical, legal, social and policy impacts of the genome revolution.

e-Africa Commission

The e-Africa Commission is part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), charged with managing the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Africa. It is responsible for developing and overseeing policies and strategies for the ICT sector. It also runs both the NEPAD e-schools initiative to teach ICT to Africans in primary and secondary education, and the NEPAD ICT infrastructure programme, aiming to connect all African countries to a broadband network.

Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group, Harvard Kennedy School

This group, part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, United States, conducts research into effective policies for developing and deploying clean, efficient energy technologies. It focuses on energy-technology innovation systems and policies, and how cleaner power can alleviate poverty, based on research in three countries — China, India and the United States — who are the world's biggest energy consumers. The website publishes discussion papers and research into nuclear power, and provides information about ongoing projects, fellowships and events related to energy policy.

Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND)

This not-for-profit organisation works with the private and public sectors to develop and implement quality yet affordable diagnostic technologies for diseases prevalent in developing countries, including tuberculosis, malaria and sleeping sickness. It also aims to strengthen laboratories and scale up projects to improve new tool uptake in endemic regions. The website provides information about the organisation's programmes and partners, news and a resource centre with free access to documents such as reports and scientific articles.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international, government-funded initiative focused on providing free and open access to biodiversity data online for scientific research, conservation and sustainable development.

The website provides an Internet-based index of primary biodiversity data, such as museum specimens and field observations of plants and animals in nature; community-developed tools for formatting and sharing data; and capacity building through training, including access to international experts and mentoring programmes. The website links to relevant reports and news, and publishes information in different languages including English, Chinese and Korean.

Global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training

START helps developing nations build their own research capacity in order to address issues surrounding global environmental change. It does this by creating networks that conduct research on regional aspects of environmental change, and inform policy makers. START is sponsored by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), and the International Human Dimensions Programme on global environmental change (IHDP).

Gobabeb Training and Research Centre

The Gobabeb Training and Research Centre aims to understand the relationship between the ecology of arid environments and human activities. Its areas of focus include developing appropriate technologies that can help improve quality of life, such as fog-collection and alternative energy sources. The centre is attached to the Southern Africa Development Community, the intergovernmental organisation representing countries in southern Africa. It is also associated with the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia.

Grassroots Innovations

This academic initiative aims to improve understanding of how activists lead the way towards bottom-up solutions for sustainable development, including renewable energy initiatives, eco-housing and local food schemes. It also offers policy advice on how these initiatives can be supported.

The website is aimed at policymakers, academics and development practitioners. It provides brief summaries of current research, links to published material, including a literature review, a working paper and articles published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as upcoming events.

Harvard University: Ethical Issues in International Health Research

This website offers information on a programme at the Harvard School of Public Health. It includes material on the principles of research ethics, informed consent, responsibilities to the study community, mechanisms of approval and the role of funders. Also available are a selection of case studies, an email discussion group, and links to a useful selection of readings on research ethics.

HIV Prevention Trials Network

The HIV Prevention Trials Network is an international network of scientists and clinical investigators engaged in developing non-vaccine methods of HIV prevention, including antiretroviral therapy, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, microbicides, sexual behavior, substance use, and controlling other sexually transmitted infections. Its website contains an excellent directory with local and regional information on investigators and their trials.

HIV Vaccine Ethics Group (University of Natal)

HAVEG has been established to conduct research on the ethical aspects of HIV vaccine research. This useful website provides information about the group's past and future studies. It also includes summaries of HAVEG’s activities in training, debate and consensus building, guideline development and work with the Ethics, Law and Human Rights working group of the African AIDS Vaccine Programme. Links are provided to HAVEG publications and to other organisations with relevant ethics resources.