ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 1
4th Meeting of ESCWA-ESTIC
ESCWA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL NEEDS & PRIORITIES AND IDENTIFICATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS
H.H. KouyoumjianICTD - ESCWA
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 2
HISTORICAL
ESCWA 23rd ministerial session: “Decided to prepare for the establishment of ESCWA TC”
A Pre-feasibility studyon the
Establishment of the ESCWA Technology Centre for Development
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 3
HISTORICAL
ESCWA 24th ministerial session: “approved, in principle, the
establishment of the ESCWA TC”
Detailed Assessment of Regional Needs and Priorities and Identification of Implementation Mechanisms
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 4
Why this decision ?
Due to collective realization that , although major advances have been marked in fields like education and health, the ESCWA Region was lagging behind newly industrialized countries
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 5
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
study abroad high school
Arab
China
India
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 6
HSP in OECD countries %
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
HSP %
Arab
China
India
1.7 m
2.0 m
4.0 m
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 7
The Challange
CONVERTING KNOWLEDGE EMBODIED IN HUMAN CAPITAL INTO SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 8
THIS IS BEST DONE BY:
Mobilizing and/or transforming available capabilities and resources
Techno-acquisition becomes integral part of national and regional economy
A better knowledge of the market place
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 10
How is the local TECH market ? Manpower: lacking in quality and
availability Technology-free transfers result in
employment deficit Available core activities not outsourced Value added per worker wanting Systemic issues that need to be addressed Resource based and not much value added
to exports
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 11
What are major regional needs ?
Job generationEradication of poverty and
Socio-economic development
Acquisition of scientific & technological capabilities associated with industrial
Development programmes
The benchmarking of STI progress through agreed upon
set of indicators
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 12
What are major regional needs ?
Con’tCreate linkages between supply
and demandIdentify priorities & diffuse best practices
Facilitate agricultural and industrialgrowth and competitiveness
Improve management of water and resources
and the environment
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 13
ESCWA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT
Mission
TO ASSIST MEMBER COUNTRIES AND THEIR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGNIZATIONS TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND CAPABILITIES TO ACCELERATE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO ATTAIN TECHNOLOGICAL PARITY WITH OTHER NATIONS AND REGIONS
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 14
OBJECTIVES OF ESCWA TC
To contribute to the strengthening of national STI systems
To develop capabilities in problem solving and policy formulation
To foster synergy and complementarity at the regional level in the application of technology
To support the attainment of MDGs
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 15
How will this be done !!!
By addressing the following major issues:
1. Identification of systematic issues that obstruct national and regional development
2. Providing insight and assistance to EMCs on effective mechanisms of technology acquisition and accumulation
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 16
Con’t.
3. Making available through out-sourcing the considerable technological capabilities sequestered in existing national industries
4. Proposing mechanisms for a more effective utilization of national infrastructures and the massive human capital
5. Providing assistance in strengthening national STI policies and disseminating best practice
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 17
Con’t.
6. Facilitating access to information at low cost
7. Providing assistance to EMCs in achieving the MDGs
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 18
TO TAKE OFF: a 4-track approach
1. Information services2. Systemic issues3. The regional technology market4. Self-organized criticality
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 19
TRACK 1: Information services
Response to requests On-line availability of info Support of STI observatories Developed portal
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 20
TRACK 2: Systemic issues
Elimination of structural obstacles Securing missing capabilities Increasing labour productivity Introducing skill certification Promoting outsourcing Acquiring industry related services
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 21
Trade in services / GDP
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Arab World
USA
EU
Japan
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 22
Agricultural productivity
Saudi Arabia: 6-fold increase over the past 10 years
All other Arab countries: 1.2–1.6 fold
Value added per farmer is 5% of farmers in industrialized world
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 23
TRACK 3: Regional technology market
Fostering cooperation Acquiring capabilities for competition Undertaking forward and backward
linkages Acquiring capacity to innovate in
process and design Establishing foundations for
knowledge based economy
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 24
TRACK 4: Self-organized criticality
Mobilize human resources Catalyzes complementarity Promote Internet based networking
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 25
DOMAINS OF ATTENTION• Agriculture• Water• Construction industry• Industrial technologies• Energy• ICT• New materials • Etc…
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 26
Information and Data Management
Division
Administrative Services Division
Pool of Consultants
Capacity Building & Training Unit
Division of Systems and Projects
Office of the Exec. Director
Board of Governors
Internal Structure
Network of STI Organizations and Centres in ESCWA
Countries
ESTIC
Board of Directors
Executive Director
Notes
Boards Management and Execution
ResourcesDirector and support offices
ESCW
A M
embe
r Cou
ntrie
s an
d O
ther
Par
tner
sOffice of the
BoG
Proposed structure
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 27
BUDGET in USD
Annual operations, Personnel, services
9 000 000 Set-up costs
11 000 000
ESTIC 4 Bahrain, 1-2 April 2008 28
A PARTNERSHIP UN-ESCWA
TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
PRODUCTIVE SECTORS
CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
A VIABLE COREA VIABLE CORE