Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Chairs: Yasmin Soliman, Santiago Munoz

Issue: Bridging the Technology Gap between and within Nations. A few key terms: ICT: Information and Communication Technologies. Proactive Sectoral Policy: Policies (set of rules) that target the engagement of the productivity and development of sectors within the economy. Socioeconomics: is the social science that studies how economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes. Sub-Saharan Africa: geographical area of the earth that lies beneath the Saharan deserts in Africa. Caches: storage units in computers.

Definition: The technology gap is the divergence between nations and communities in their abilities to access, diffuse and use scientific and technical knowledge. The current issue: It is one of the main causes of the rapidly expanding socio-economic gap between rich and poor nations, and constitutes a major challenge for developing countries in their efforts to achieving the development goals. Recent findings indicate that almost 60 per cent of the differences in income levels between sub-Saharan African (SSA) and the industrialized countries are caused by the differences in the availability of education, technological advancements and scientific developments. So to put it simply, the more technologically advanced a country is, the higher the average incomes tend to be. Similarly, they differ in the appreciation of the importance of science and technology for development; in capabilities to provide S&T (science and technology) advice to countries at the international level, and to implement the results of technological negotiations at the national level. The digital divide is far more than a gap in

Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Chairs: Yasmin Soliman, Santiago Munoz

access to ICT, however. It is a major hinderance to the social and economic development of poor nations. Various quantitative measures indicate that there is a large gap between countries in terms of technological activity, human capital, industrial structure and performance. The technology gap is evident not only along the traditional North-South divide, but also between developing and transition economies. The importance of technological advancements: In the twenty-first century, knowledge and information and a highly skilled labor force are increasingly important determinants of growth in the global economy. ICT has already revolutionized economic life and business in the industrialized countries and is transforming these societies in equally profound ways. ICT is a key weapon in the war against world poverty. When used properly, it offers huge potential to empower people in developing countries to overcome development obstacles, to address the most important social problems they face, and to strengthen communities, democratic institutions, a free press, and local economies. Controversies: On the other hand, according to some, the development of information and communications technology is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor, the knowledgeable and the knowledge deprived, the information rich and the information poor. Instead of closing the divide, the introduction of more ICT worsens social and economic divides–not only between rich and poor countries, but also among various socioeconomic groups within countries. Others argue that ICT closes the divide by merging countries in the global economy and providing them access to global knowledge and information for development. Nonetheless, there are stark differences in access across the world according to gender, geography (i.e., urban versus rural), income, education, age, occupation, and even ethnicity and race. The groups with the greatest access to new information and communications technology are generally well-educated,

Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Chairs: Yasmin Soliman, Santiago Munoz

high income urban males. Poor, illiterate females in rural areas are least likely to have access to ICT What is being done: Many international financial organizations, aid agencies, and private foundations are committed to helping developing countries bridge the digital divide and are being mobilized into action by the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and other bodies. Additionally, many feel that advances in technology will help bridge the digital divide between industrial and developing countries. Diffusion of Internet access is expected to be rapid in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Indeed, access to information over the Internet is already being greatly facilitated for consumers in developing countries by the existence of new data caches and innovative networking of servers around the world. The development of wireless telecommunications is also expected to facilitate access to the Internet in remote rural areas where telephone service has been unavailable. And, above all, computers are likely to become both pervasive and affordable, not just on the desktop and as handheld appliances, but embedded in intelligent objects everywhere. However, even with the best of intentions, achieving these goals will not be easy for developing countries. They lack both the funding and the technical expertise to overcome infrastructure and human resource constraints. Over the past several decades, a small group of newly industrialized economies (NIEs) have successfully reduced the gap between themselves and industrialized countries and, in some areas, even overtaken them. Their catching-up experiences illustrate the important role of knowledge and the building of national capabilities in using knowledge. During the same period, some developing countries have slipped behind with regard to technological development. Of these countries, sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries deserve special policy attention. Successful strategies to consider and adopt:

Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Chairs: Yasmin Soliman, Santiago Munoz

➔ Access to international markets, technology transfer and education plays a key role in the technological development of a nation, however access to international markets will not be possible without domestic technological innovation. Strategic investments in human resource development, education and infrastructure, and openness to foreign technologies, investment, and the flows of human resources are critical and complementary elements in policy design.

➔ Proactive sectoral policy is of vital importance to bridging the technology gap; particularly important is the development of the productive sector, which provides opportunities for and benefits from technological upgrading and learning.

➔ Strengthening technological infrastructure. Not only does infrastructure serve as a foundation for technology creation and diffusion, but developing it also provides opportunities for technological learning and upgrading. Infrastructure services such as business incubators and S&T parks are considered as central elements in well-functioning national innovation systems.

➔ Raising awareness and appreciation of science, technology and innovation. Many countries in the developing world lack a solid base for technology and innovation. Often, there is little understanding and appreciation of why innovation is important for industry. Government could launch information campaigns including awards and official recognition programmes to ensure that technology consciousness diffuses from the leading technology performers to others.

Useful sites: http://unctad.org/en/Docs/ecn162006d2_en.pdf (seriously guys, study this document like it’s your lifeline, it’ll help you get an outstanding understanding of this topic, and allows you to create successful resolutions.) Work hard guys, and I’ll see you all on the weekend of the 17th :)

Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Chairs: Yasmin Soliman, Santiago Munoz