Knowledge for Development

Project description

Research Question:
Science, research and technology represent the major sources and instruments to manage the forthcoming challenges of a globalizing information and knowledge-based society. The fast and dynamic developments in this sector demand a special effort of developing countries in order to take advantage of their opportunities and to avoid to be uncoupled. The present project tackles the question of how development cooperation can support the developing countries to affiliate with the global scientific community. It aims at mobilising the potential science and research within the developing countries have, to match the MDGs. Moreover, it will promote partnerships between universities, national innovative systems and the development cooperation institutions.

For this reason, a position paper has been composed. This serves as reference for the systematic consideration of tertiary education and research in developing countries as well as of their international integration in programmes of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and its implementing agencies. A strategic reorientation of the German development cooperation in this area and a stronger emphasis on its importance should be accompanied by a more intense coordination with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This enforces the internationalisation of science and research and is involved in the elaboration of cooperation strategies with Africa in the context of G8.

First Results:
The project identified cooperation possibilities of the different ministries and institutions and proposed next steps in the context of the German presidency of G8 and EU in 2007 when science and research were highlighted as one of the main topics.