51吃瓜

Science, technology and development are pivotal to sustainable development and academies of science and universities play a central role in this vision. Their financial sustainability is not merely about survival but about fulfilling mandates, contributing meaningfully to national and regional economies and influencing policies that enable governments to best serve their communities, the UN Technology Bank has stressed.

In her opening remarks at a side event during the annual meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA) in Algiers, Ms. Federica Irene Falomi, Economic Affairs Officer at UNTB said:

Ms. Falomi highlighted that many Least Developed Countries lack established academies with strong institutional foundations, limiting their participation in critical discussions and policymaking and reducing the impact of science, technology and innovation on sustainable development, particularly in relation to context-specific knowledge. However, she noted that countries have the potential to leverage tested and proven solutions by leapfrogging certain stages of development.    

During the panel discussion, Ms. Asli Hekimoglu, Associate Programme Manager at UNTB, emphasized the role of knowledge institutions in bridging the gap between research and policy:

However, she noted that significant challenges persist with less than 10% of universities in Sub-Saharan Africa having access to fully equipped research laboratories. This underinvestment has implications for their capacity to produce impactful research, attract funding, and contribute to the national development goals.  

Ms Hekimoglu also addressed the issue of 鈥榖rain drain鈥� in Least Developed Countries:

Addressing a question about how to overcome these challenges, Ms. Hekimoglu underscored the importance of the Technology Needs Assessments conducted by the UN Technology Bank. She said they are essential tools for policymakers; informing the governments on where technology investments should be directed to maximize impact in the country. Technology Needs Assessments include a focus on universities' research and development capacities, she explained, emphasizing universities and science academies as pivotal for driving economic transformation.

Through its collaboration with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), the UN Technology Bank aims to amplify the voices of scientists and researchers within development agendas. Scientists may not always have the networks or platforms to advocate for their needs, but through academies of science, they can contribute meaningfully to national and regional policies,鈥� Ms. Hekimoglu said.