In the United Nations Millennium General Assembly, September 2000, the world’s leaders adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to alleviate poverty, improve health and promote peace, human rights and environmental sustainability. The 1st Innovation Systems Workshop at community level took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-8 February 2006. The meeting was hosted by SIRIM-Berhad under the auspices of the World Bank and the Global Research Alliance, supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia and the Swiss Development Corporation. Yb Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaludin Dato’ Mohd. Jarjis, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation officiated at the workshop. Fifty delegates from 15 countries, representing scientific institutions, practitioners, governmental and non-governmental agencies and multilateral institutions, participated in the facilitated workshop. At the heart of this initiative are innovation systems by communities. Actions emanating from the workshop include: The Global Research Alliance, in consultation with appropriate organisations and associations, will prepare a paper for submission through Dato’ Lee Yee-Cheong to Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Chairman of the UN Millennium Project, on project ideas to be undertaken by the science, technology and innovation community to assist in meeting the MDGs. The proposal will be submitted to Prof Sachs before the end of March 2006. Undertake a Case Study on innovation systems at community level in the brassware handicraft sector in Malaysia with parallel studies in for example South Africa and India which will lead to the development of common methodologies for fostering community-based innovation. SIRIM to lead on this project with a two year time frame. Identify, document and promote community innovations through three initiatives – Idea to Market – institutionally driven (SIRIM interim report in 6 months); Village 2020 – community owned (SIRIM through MOSTI 12 month timeframe); twin project Village 2020 replicated in another country (GRA next 12 months). Capture, analyse and share the underlying logic of community innovation success stories around the world and discovering underlying logic such that they can be applied in situations elsewhere. SIRIM will lead this initiative and prepare a draft document for the S&T forum in Washington. Review of existing innovation support funds and outline of a global mechanism to foster community level innovations. World Bank to lead and produce review by April and outline of global mechanisms in September. Promote south-south cooperation with partner countries and institutions to share knowledge and expertise and identify projects for collaborative partnerships, example TRAMIL like the programme for medicinal plants. TRAMIL/SIRIM to lead – outline in April. Review and propose amendments to mandate of existing institutions to enable community based innovation. MOSTI with input from Prolinnova. Organise a follow-up 2nd Innovation Systems at Community Level workshop to review progress and identify further action before 2008.
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