The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Group of 77 officially launched the Consortium of Science, Technology and Innovation in the South (COSTIS) on 4 November, during a ministerial roundtable at the start of the World Science Forum. The launch fulfills the promise of the Declaration adopted by ministers at the First Summit of the G77 and China in Havana (Cuba) in 2004.
The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) has spearheaded the development of COSTIS, in collaboration with UNESCO. In the words of Dumasani S. Kumalo, permanent representative of South Africa to the United Nations and chair of the G77, ‘COSTIS will provide member states of the G77 with direct access to the developing world's best scientific minds. The organization could prove instrumental in placing science and technology at the centre of the developing world's economic development efforts.’
‘COSTIS represents a unique blend of political power and scientific and technical expertise," says Mohamed H.A. Hassan, executive director of TWAS. COSTIS' main focus will be to promote science-based economic development in developing countries and encourage international cooperation in science and technology. The consortium will provide a unique platform for governmental agencies responsible for funding research and development to interact with leaders in academia and industry.’
COSTIS' flagship activity will be to convene periodic South-South forums on science, technology and innovation for development that address topics of critical concern, including the development of appropriate and affordable technologies for increasing access to safe drinking water, energy, and information and communication technologies.
In addition, COSTIS plans to support the creation of scientific centres of excellence; promote the sharing of innovative experiences and best practices in the use of science and technology; and encourage efforts to increase scientific cooperation through international exchange programmes and joint research projects.
‘Many successful science-based economic development initiatives have been put in place in developing countries such as Brazil, China and India," says Kumalo. "As a result, we now have a great deal to learn from one another. At the same time, we do not want ignore the work of our colleagues in the North. COSTIS could serve as a valuable link between scientific and economic development communities in the developed and developing world.’
‘We will seek funding for our initiatives from a number of different sources,’ says Hassan, "including individual governments in the developing and developed worlds and international donors and foundations.’
COSTIS replaces the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations.The secretariat will be located in Trieste, Italy, and operate under the administrative umbrella of the Trieste System of international organizations.
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