Science, Technology, and Innovation - Links

The following links contain interesting material produced by other organizations related to science, technology, innovation and education for the knowledge economy:

International organizations:

European Commission – Innovation and Technology Transfer

This is a reference source for European Commission publications on innovation and technology transfer, grouped by type: periodicals, studies, conference proceedings, and official documents.

UNU-INTECH – United Nation University Institute for New Technologies

UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in research, postgraduate training and the dissemination of knowledge aimed at furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

UNCTAD – Science and Technology for Development (StDev)

StDev is a gateway to UN system-wide information on science and technology for development.

UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organization

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today's globalized world. It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment.

TWAS – The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World

TWAS is an autonomous international organization that represents the academy of sciences for the developing world. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South.

UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organization

UNESCO promotes international co-operation among its 191 Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication are addressed as the means to help Member States building their human and institutional capacities in diverse fields.

WFEO – World Federation of Engineering Organizations

The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) is committed to the advancement of the world engineering profession for the benefit of mankind. It particularly works to assist development of the engineering profession, and in the sharing, exchange and transfer of technology from one country to another. It works to improve the community understanding of engineering, the quality of engineering education and training, and the ethics and standards of engineering practice.

UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD is an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

CEPR – Center for Economic Policy Research

CEPR's research is conducted by a network of over 600 researchers who retain their academic bases. The CEPR provides common services for its researchers and for the users of its research, and it obtains funding for the activities it develops.

IAC – InterAcademy Council

IAC was created to mobilize the best scientists and engineers worldwide to provide high quality advice to international bodies - such as the United Nations and the World Bank - as well as to other institutions. The IAC is client-driven and works on a project-by-project basis. It has developed mechanisms and procedures to guarantee the scientific quality of its reports, the policy-relevance of its recommendations and the absence of regional or national bias.

Network of Technology Parks and Incubation Schemes

The Network of Technology Parks and Incubators Schemes is an initiative of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. The Network efforts are focused in the areas of dissemination of new technologies, facilitation of technology transfer and scientific and technological capacity-building, with emphasis on the needs of sustainable development in the Developing Countries and enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of their economies. 

World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Specialized Websites:

Knowledge Economy Development Gateway

The Development Gateway is an independent not-for-profit organization conceived by the former World Bank President James Wolfensohn and initially developed in the World Bank. The site is designed to raise the issues related to developing countries’ transition to the knowledge based economy and help improve people’s lives in developing countries by building partnerships and information systems that provide access to knowledge for development.

Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net)

The overall aim of the SciDev.Net is to enhance the provision of reliable and authoritative information on science and technology-related issues that impact on the economic and social development of developing countries. The free-access website helps to ensure that both individuals and organizations in the developing world are better placed to make informed decisions on these issues.

Trend Chart – Innovation Policy in Europe

The "European TrendChart on Innovation" is a major operation of the European Commission (DG Enterprise). The TrendChart offers its services primarily to innovation policy makers and scheme managers in Europe. 

The Competitiveness Institute (TCI)

TCI is a not-for-profit alliance of cluster practitioners. TCI's mission is to improve living standards and the local competitiveness of regions throughout the world, by fostering cluster-based development initiatives.

Governmental Organizations

Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

RIS is an autonomous research institution established with the financial support of the Government of India. It is India’s contribution to the fulfillment of the long-felt need of the developing world for creating a ‘Think-Tank’ on global issues in the field of international economic relations and development cooperation. RIS has also been envisioned as a forum for fostering effective intellectual dialogue among developing countries.

INSME – International Network for SMEs

The International Network for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises-INSME is a non profit Association open to international membership. Its mission is to stimulate transnational cooperation and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The NSF is an independent federal agency created by US Congress to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense… NSF is a funding source for approximately 20% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

Science and Technology Policy Council of Finland

The S&T Policy Council assists the Finnish Council of State and its Ministries
in questions relating to science and technology.

National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

The NAS is an honorific US society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. The Academy membership is comprised of approximately 2,000 members and 350 foreign associates, of whom more than 200 have won Nobel Prizes.

The National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI)

The NACI is appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology to advise him (and through him, the Ministers Committee and the Cabinet) on the role and contribution of innovation (including science and technology) in promoting and achieving national objectives, namely to (i) improve and sustain the quality of life of all South Africans; (ii) develop human resources for science and technology build the economy; (iii) strengthen the country's competitiveness in the international sphere.

Other organizations

The Global Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (GLOBELICS)

The basic intention behind GLOBELICS is to create a global network of scholars who apply the concept ‘systems of innovation and competence building’ as their analytical framework. The idea is to bring together relevant information about what is going o­n in different places of the globe and to share experiences worldwide regarding methodological issues, analytical results and policy relevant experiences among senior scholars.

Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics (DRUID)

DRUID began as a Danish research network, but has evolved into "hub" of a large international network in industrial dynamics though the activities undertaken during DRUID's existence. The core of these activities consists of the organization of two annual conferences and an internationally well-recognized electronic working paper series.

Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU)

SPRU is one of the first centers in the field of science, technology and innovation policy. Now a world leader in research, consultancy and postgraduate training in this area, it is the largest centre of its kind worldwide.

Science, Technology and Innovation Center at Harvard University

The aim of this activity is to undertake research, conduct training, provide policy advice and disseminate information on the role of science, technology and innovation in economic growth in developing countries. It stresses the importance of integrating environmental considerations into economic growth and adjusting institutions to reflect the needs of sustainable development. It focuses on how to mobilize the world’s scientific and technical knowledge to solve global development challenges.