27 January 2010
Source: SciDev. Net
Author: Gordon Conway and Jeff Waage

According to the author shared problems, new technology and better communication all mean innovation is ready to drive development. Rich and poor increasingly face shared problems such as agricultural insecurity, infectious and chronic diseases with global spread, and the challenges of developing a low carbon economy and adapting to climate change. There are more new technologies that can be turned quickly and easily towards the problems of rich or poor alike. For example biotechnology which has delivered improved crops and new vaccines for the rich. And because it harnesses fundamental genetic and molecular processes, it is also easily directed towards the crops and diseases of the poor. Rapid growth in information and communication technology is also making it easier for all countries to participate in science innovation — and to engage stakeholders and beneficiaries in this process, across historical boundaries of developed and developing countries. Shared challenges, shareable technologies and improved opportunities for communication and collaboration — all very recent trends — greatly improve science innovation’s chances of driving effective development. From the combined 80 years working in international development, the authors suggest five priority actions for governments in both developed and developing countries: 1) Empowerment; 2) Systems; 3)Accessibility; 4) Results-based; and 5) Profile-raising. To know what actions will best secure new opportunities and accelerate development read the full opinion piece. This opinion piece can be viewed online at the link below:

http://www.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/opinions/innovation-s-development-opportunities.html