the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, Kyoto, Japan
12 September 2006
His Excellency Koji Omi, Chairman and Founder of the Science and Technology
in Society Forum
International guests
Distinguished guests
Members of the STS Forum
Ladies and gentlemen
At the very onset, let me thank the people of Japan for their kind
invitation. We are collectively grateful for this very important policy
dialogue among the leading decision-makers in the world of Science and
Technology.
Two weeks ago, in Brazil, we held the second Group of 77 (G-77) Ministers of
Science and Technology meeting. This was a seminal gathering where the G-77
Ministers committed themselves afresh to ensuring higher levels of science,
innovation and technology in the developing world. This will be done through a
variety of mechanisms, including greater national investments with an emphasis
on Human Capital Development and Science and Technology Infrastructure, as well
as a broadening and deepening of international co-operation to achieve these
ends. Further, the Ministers' meeting endorsed the declaration of the Third
World Network of Scientific Organisations (TWNSO) to transform itself into the
Consortium of science, technology and innovation of the South (COSTIS), which
is in accordance with the South Summit (Havana) decision.
In addition, we have a rapidly developing African Union (AU) /New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) science and technology platform in
Africa, operating under the political leadership of the African Ministers
Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST), and reporting into the AU Summit.
In fact, the next Heads of State Summit in January 2007 will have the special
theme of Science, Technology and Innovation. This is a great step forward for
the development of science in Africa and in the developing world.
These developments demonstrate a very encouraging phenomenon - the deepening
of the South-South Science, Technology and Innovation dialogue. We are clear in
the developing world that our route to development, increasing our
competitiveness and ensuring a better quality of life, is through innovation.
We are equally sure that we cannot accomplish this alone; international
partnership and co-operation is vital.
This is why the STS Forum has become such a valuable platform. Not only is
it drawing policy makers, academia, the private sector and the user communities
together, but it has also become an important forum to connect us across the
globe. This forum has over the last three days helped get the different puzzle
pieces closer together - North to North, South to South and South to North.
The message I bring you today is that the South is organising itself to
become a much more pro-active player in the international Science, Technology
and Innovation agenda. We are actively looking for your support and
partnership.
A very important part of this partnership is creating the appropriate and
enabling environment for development in the South. One of the core messages
from the World Summit on Sustainable Development was that an empowered and
prosperous developing world is a fundamental condition for global sustainable
development. With this as context, we therefore need to take a fresh look at
the issue of Intellectual Property.
We endorse fully the need for appropriate intellectual property protection
and indeed one of our key problems in the South is adequate protection of
indigenous knowledge, and products and services derived from indigenous
knowledge. A second issue is the need for a more generous view on how
developing countries can meet the obligations associated with the provision of
basic healthcare and nutritional security for its citizens. We are confident
that the fine minds here can contribute substantially towards finding the right
solutions to meet our circumstances.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have here the leading voices in science and
technology from around the globe, who have in these three days committed their
minds to making real the notion of 'globalisation for good'. We need this
global momentum to deal with the 'global bad'. This includes the challenges of
poverty and ensuring the provision of basic needs to all in this global
village.
Our international science and technology efforts must ensure nutrition and
health security within the paradigm of sustainable development. We must put our
minds and efforts together on the quest to deal with global disease burdens of
HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension, cardiac disease and obesity.
We must especially ensure the protection of our children. Our efforts must be
accelerated in the areas of establishing in a sustainable way safe water, safe
sanitation and access to energy sources for all in the world. Meeting the
Millennium Development Goals, ambitiously set by our Heads of State in 2000, is
only possible through innovation, science and technology.
In addition, we must intensify our collective efforts to deal with other
international challenges. These include disaster prediction, mitigation and
management and climate change. These are some of the phenomena of our time that
affect us all in the most dramatic way.
I know that you have deliberated intensively on these issues over the past
few days in this beautiful and historic city. It is my hope that the
relationships that you have developed here will result in networks of action.
These networks of people and institutions, of public and private sectors, of
North and South, must take the cudgels and pursue these challenges. It is our
collective responsibility to research, design and implement solutions for a
better tomorrow.
Once again I applaud this initiative and its noble intentions. Ladies,
gentlemen, scientists, political leaders, we shall continue to seek the light
through dialogue and partnership for the benefit of our society and the future
of our children.
Thank you very much.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
12 September 2006
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
