GENEVA - The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in preparation for the UNCTAD XII to be held April 20-25, 2007 in Ghana, is organizing a meeting on science, technology, innovation and ICTs for development on December 6, 2007 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The meeting will address the question of how applications of science, technology and ICTs can be enhanced and put to use to help countries meet human needs and reap the benefits of the knowledge economy. It will also help in identifying issues of importance in the international policy agenda on science, technology and ICTs to which UNCTAD can make a meaningful contribution.

The event targets government officials and representatives of the private sector engaged in activities or policymaking in the areas of science, technology, innovation and ICTs, states members of UNCTAD, specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations.

The objectives of the meeting are to mobilize partners from development agencies (bilateral and multilateral), the private sector, universities and research institutes on issues related to Safety Technology International (STI) and ICTs and to exchange views and share experiences on specific measures needed to integrate science, technology and ICTs in national and international development strategies.

The meeting will tackle issues related to harnessing science, technology and engineering for innovation and development, international development-oriented policies for socio-economic inclusive information economy, including access to and use of ICTs in developing countries.

Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

source: ag-IP news