Recent developments

UNESCO and Korea to foster science parks in South

September 2006 - The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Daejeon Metropolitan City and UNESCO have set up a scheme to help developing countries manage science and technology parks, or ‘technopolises’. The tripartite agreement was signed on 29 September at UNESCO headquarters.
Under the scheme, KOICA and Daejon Metropolitan City will contribute US$1 million in funds in trust over the next five years to UNESCO’s programme for University-Industry-Science partnerships (UNISPAR). UNISPAR seeks to overcome the problems many developing countries face in commercializing research by fostering partnerships between academia and industry. The project will foster innovation in information and communication technologies, biotechnology and other high-tech fields.
To launch the fund, KOICA has donated US$120 000 and Daejeon City a further US$80 000. These initial funds will be used to run an annual international training workshop in Daejeon, as well as a series of regional workshops in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The project will also develop a regional network and pilot project in each of Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in close cooperation with the World Technopolis Association.

project coordinator.