Events 2006

Strengthening the reform process in Nigeria

22-23 November 2006
UNESCO is organizing a workshop at headquarters in Paris to review implementation thus far of the Reform of the Nigerian Science System and identify measures for fast-tracking the reform process, in line with the wishes of President Obasanjo. The workshop will be followed by the 5th session of the International Advisory Board (IAB) for the project on 24 November. Many workshop delegates will be invited to serve on the National Science Reform Committee that will henceforward guide the science reform process. Read the programme. Read the background on the reform process. Contact the IAB Secretary.

Celebration of the World Science day for Peace and Development

10 November 2006
As each year, the World Science Day for Peace and Development will be celebrated worldwide on 10 November.
The City of Genoa, Italy, will host this year's celebration of the Day in the context of the Science Festival 2006.
Several events will also take place at UNESCO Headquarters and in UNESCO's member States.
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UNESCO-WTA Training Workshop on High-tech Cluster Governance

6 - 10 November 2006
The UNESCO-WTA International Training Workshop on High-tech Cluster Governance falls within the framework of cooperation between UNESCO and WTA in supporting science city (Technopolis) development through promoting the sharing of experience, facilitating technology transfer and encouraging cooperation among high-tech clusters. It is designed to meet the needs of participants because its content will be based on requests of the participants. (More)
Web Site

Promoting the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society, with a view to enhancing digital opportunities for all people

6 - 8 November 2006
United Nations Commission on Science Technology for Development (UNCSTD) Panel. Jointly organized with UNESCO, the Panel will address the 2006-2007 substantive theme of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, on "Promoting the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society, with a view to enhancing digital opportunities for all people". Findings and recommendations to emerge from the Panel will be considered by the Commission at its tenth session in May 2007.
Programme

UNESCO and WSIS
Consultation meeting on WSIS Action Line C7 ''E-science''

22 October 2006
UNESCO is one of the lead facilitating agencies for the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines. In accordance with the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society and the consultation of possible Action Line Moderators/Facilitators of 24 February 2006 in Geneva, which assigned UNESCO a role as an interim focal point for several Action Lines, UNESCO organizes the first multistakeholder consultation on Action Line C7 on 22 October 2006 at Beijing International Convention Center (view access) in Beijing , China, in conjunction with the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) Annual Conference.
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Reform of the science and technology system of Nigeria
A Presidential Retreat on Science and Technology will take place in Abuja on 10 August. UNESCO launched a reform of Nigeria’s science, technology and innovation system in 2004, at the request of Nigeria. President Olusegun Obasanjo will be joined on the Retreat by numerous Cabinet ministers and a UNESCO delegation. For details, contact Folarin Osotimehin, Secretary of UNESCO’s International Advisory Board for the Reform of the Science, Technology and Innovation System of Nigeria.

UNESCO convenes the UN S&T Cluster in support of NEPAD
The Second Meeting of the UN Science and Technology Cluster of Agencies in support of NEPAD will be held in UNESCO HQ in Paris on Friday 9 June 2006. The planned meeting will take place within the context of the lead-up to the AU Heads of State Summit in January 2007 with the theme as ‘Science, Technology and Research for Africa’s Development.’ The purpose of the meeting is to promote dialogue and gain a better understanding of the different partners’ vision, strategies, and goals in relation to the contribution of S&T to Africa’s development and how best the UN system can respond to the AU/NEPAD process in coordination with other relevant partners.

Representative from the AU, NEPAD, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNIDO, IDRC, DFID, WBI, WIPO and other UN agencies are expected to attend this day-long meeting which will take place in two sessions. The UN Cluster of agencies (UNECA, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, WIPO etc.) will meet in the morning from 10 am to 1 pm and during the afternoon session from 3 pm to 5.30 pm the Cluster will meet with other relevant partners working for science and technology development in Africa.

UNCSTD to hold its next intercessional meeting at UNESCO
The United Nations Commission for Science technology for Development (UNCSTD) has decided to hold it next meeting in October/November this year at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This decision dates back to UNCSTD's last session in May 2006, which was devoted to the 9th of UNCSTD, which was held in Geneva, at the UNCTAD HQ during the period 16-19 May 2006.
The Commission devoted this session to the question of Bridging the Technology gap. A number of ministers of Science and Technology attended the May session.
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Boosting Innovation by Bridging the Knowledge Gap
UNESCO, UNIDO, WIPO and other members of the International Network for Small and Medium Enterprises (INSME) are holding INSME’s 2nd General Assembly in Montevideo, Uruguay, followed by an international conference on Boosting Innovation by Bridging the Knowledge Gap: A Developer-User Approach. The conference and related visits to technological and scientific centres on the outskirts of Montevideo should provide excellent platforms for those interested in UNESCO’s University Industry Science Partnership (UNISPAR) Programme. For details of the conference, click here.
Contact the UNESCO Focal point.

Regional Forum on Science and Technology Policy for Sustainable Development.
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