According to a statement issued at the closing of the conference, the main objectives of the conference were, among others, to promote South-South and North-South cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), to explore ways of improving the interface between scientific research, policy development and business enterprises as well as to provide a framework for utilizing STI for attaining accelerated economic growth in Africa.

The conference dealt with issues pertaining to Africa’s socio-economic development, among others, STI policy, STI – Idea Factory, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), patents and technology transfer, international programs to support STI as well as energy, water, transport and infrastructure.

The keynote address of the conference indicated that Africa is endowed with enormous underdeveloped natural wealth (i.e. mineral, agriculture and energy resources.) It also has under-utilized human capital, particularly the youth and women. Paradoxically, Africa lags behind in the generation and application of knowledge for development.

In order for Africa to occupy an appropriate position in the contemporary global knowledge-driven economy, it has to put to better use current scientific knowledge and skills to address its priority needs.

The continent needs to engage in the new fields of science and cutting-edge technologies that have strong impact onto sustainable socio-economic development.

The conference recommended that ECA, in collaboration with the AUC and international partners, such as the EU, set up an STI secretariat for “Science with Africa”.

About 700 policy and decision makers, scientists, entrepreneurs, journalists and students attended the conference organized in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and other UN agencies and partners.

R—3:00-3:37pm

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