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Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review |
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 Science, technology and innovation are essential ingredients in the industrialization and sustainable development of nations. The importance of these ingredients as crucial factors in the economic growth and competitiveness of countries has become all the more evident in the face of globalization, trade liberalization and the emergence of knowledge-abased industries. Globalization has brought with it a more intense competitive environment and new requirements for sustained competitiveness. This new competitive environment has fuelled the growth of knowledge-intensive production by increasing scientific and technological interactions and the need for innovation. The active search for continuous improvements has created an urgent need to rely even more on scientific and technological innovation and to adjust policies and practices at both the enterprise and government levels. Through the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Reviews (STIPs), UNCTAD aims at helping developing countries identify and adjust their policies and institutions in order to support the technological transformation, capacity-building and innovation of their enterprises. Context and mandate A stable political environment combined with sound macroeconomic policies create the potential for improving national prosperity. However, prosperity depends on a nation's capabilities at the microeconomic level – the ability of firms, large and small, to produce goods and services productively and competitively. The STIP Reviews are an attempt to respond to the increasing recognition of the importance of technology and innovation as crucial inputs to the competitiveness and growth prospects of countries. Developing countries and countries with economies in transition whose science and technology institutions are, in many cases, fragmented, uncoordinated and poorly adapted to meeting industry's needs, require new approaches that will allow them to take stock of their national systems of innovation and enable them to assess their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to benefit from globalization and defeat marginalization. STIP Reviews are undertaken by the UNCTAD Secretariat in relation to mandates by resolutions by UNCTAD X and the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD). Purpose The main purpose of STIPs is to enable participating countries to undertake country reviews and analysis of national science, technology and innovation policies with a view to identifying policies and practices favouring technological capacity-building and strengthening technological capabilities, innovation and competitiveness and integrating them in the overall development policy. The STIP Reviews involve a SWOT analysis aimed at: 1. Providing policy support to Governments in the designs of their science, technology and innovation (STI) systems; 2. Improving linkages in the industrial sector between SMEs, large firms, science and technology institutions, and business associations; 3. Enhancing national dialogue in the area of science, technology and innovation, and contributing to industrial upgrading; 4. Identifying measures to encourage transfer of technology; 5. Identifying and evaluating new and emerging S&T sectors. Concept A STIP Review is an interactive process aimed at assisting national S&T institutions, economic agents and other entities in their efforts to make STIs an efficient and viable tool for development. The focus of the analysis is on the interrelationship among the various institutions and players in the system of innovation of the participating country, and the distribution and linkage of knowledge across all the various national agents as well as on the identification and dissemination of information to facilitate the transfer of technology and the development of technological capabilities. STIP process The STIP Reviews are undertaken at the request of United Nations member states, expressed through a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. Once approved an funded, the review process begins with the preparation of a project proposal and a background report by the UNCTAD Secretariat, in cooperation/consultation with local authorities of the participating country. Then, a small team of UNCTAD staff and international experts carries out a field mission to review and evaluate the country's STI conditions and policies and prepares an evaluation report to be presented and discussed in a workshop/round-table meeting with the science and technology policy makers of the country. The report contains the team's assessment of the STI system in the country and recommends appropriate policy options. A concise STIP Review report, taking into account the background and the field mission's reports as well as the outcome of the workshop, is then prepared by the Secretariat for publication by the United Nations and for presentation to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and in other appropriate forums. Participants Three STIP Reviews,for Colombia, Jamaica and Iran, have been completed. STIP Reviews are being funded from extra-budgetary sources. For further information, please contact: Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Chief, Science and Technology Section, Policy and Capacity Building Branch, Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10 Tel: 41-22-917-5069 Email: mongi.hamdi@unctad.org |
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