International Centre for South-South Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation

Launch of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC).

The International Centre for South-South Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation was inaugurated in Kuala Lumpur in May 2008. The centre functions under the auspices of UNESCO.

It facilitates the integration of a developmental approach into national science and technology and innovation policies, and provides policy advice. In parallel to organizing capacity-building and the exchange of experience and best practices, the centre conducts research and tackles specific problems in science, technology and innovation policy-making in developing countries.

Background

Almost all developed countries have well-established science policy research centres providing training and policy advice, in addition to research. In many developing countries, however, this capacity is lacking, leading to fragmented, poorly coordinated science systems.

It was to help remedy this situation that the Government of Malaysia put forward a proposal for an international platform in Kuala Lumpur which would emphasize South-South cooperation. After examining a study prepared by UNESCO's science policy division on the feasibility of creating such a centre, the 58 members of UNESCO's Executive Board decided on 24 April 2007 to recommend that the centre be approved by all 193 Member States when they met the following October for UNESCO's General Conference. The Centre was subsequently approved by the General Conference.

Further reading

Read about the launch of the centre and the first decisions of its Governing Board

Read the report to UNESCO’s Executive Board on the feasibility study for the centre. ENG - FRE - SPA - RUS - ARA - CHI

Contact the focal point at UNESCO

ISTIC Website

Photo Gallery - Launch of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC)

Inauguration of International Centre for South-South Co-operation

May 2008 - The International Centre for South-South Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation was inaugurated on 22 May in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Director of UNESCO’s Division for Science Policy and Sustainable Development, Mustafa El-Tayeb, attended the event. For details of the launch and the first meeting of the Governing Board, click here.

UNESCO and Government of Malaysia sign agreement for centre

January 2008 - An agreement was signed on 21 January for the creation of the International Centre for South-South Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement was signed by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and His Excellency Dato Sri Jamaludin Jarjis, the Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 21 January.

Science Policy Formulation