SciDev.Net

On its 25th anniversary, TWAS has called on governments to put science at the centre of their policymaking.

Many countries have failed to invest sufficiently in health research since pledging to do so four years ago, but others have progressed.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences is taking steps to progress current laboratory technologies and analysis methods.

A new grant scheme by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will award funds worth US$100 million for original research in health.

The Arab world has launched its first science news website, with the aim of communicating researchers' work to the public.

Gabon's International Medical Research Centre is refocusing its research strategy to become a centre of excellence for emerging diseases.

The Mozambican government will develop four 'science parks' to encourage scientists to find solutions for health and infrastructure.

The Ecuadorian government will give US$76 million to fund 75 research and innovation projects for priority development areas.

A new office of the Research Councils of the United Kingdom was opened in India last week, with the aim of enhancing collaboration.

Science and technology will play an important role in Kuwait's 2009–2014 development plan, with a government policy to transform the sector.

Uruguay will open a centre for clinical research to develop medical studies, train scientists and produce knowledge.

A partnership between Egypt and IBM will establish the first regional nanotechnology research centre in Cairo.

Southern genomics researchers should focus on single-gene disorders affecting their people rather than lifestyle diseases, says a scientist.

Cheaper medicines for malaria are on the horizon with new and faster genetic techniques, say scientists.

China needs to improve the integration between business and science and different sectors of its innovation system, according to an OECD report.

Indian biomedical research scientists will receive fellowships through a partnership with The Wellcome Trust.

The Chinese government will roll out a US$3.5 billion research project for GM crops later this month.

The United States is set to debut a voucher scheme to encourage pharmaceutical companies to produce drugs for tropical diseases.

The Philippine government has boosted its science and technology budget from US$16.4 million in 2007 to US$26.6 million.

Brazilian bioenergy research has received a boost with the launch of a new research programme in São Paulo aiming to foster collaboration.