Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Thematic Group Inaugural Meeting

The World Bank is increasingly being asked to help client countries develop their science, technology, and innovation (STI) capacity.  The Blair Commission Report and the MDG Task Force Report, to name just two of the more prominent recent international calls to action, both place STI capacity building near the top of the international development agenda.  For example, STI capacity is now seen as an essential tool for achieving the MDGs by addressing, in particular, the health, nutrition, education, and environmental problems that afflict the poor.  And STI capacity building is also seen as an indispensable tool for improving economic productivity and competitiveness – in other words, for reducing poverty by increasing the wealth, productivity, and incomes of the poor.

The Bank has a long and successful history of supporting STI capacity building in such countries as South Korea, India, China, and Chile, to name just a few prominent examples.  However, despite these successes, a 2002 Report to the Board entitled, “Strategic Approaches to Science and Technology in Development” indicated that World Bank support for STI capacity building is fragmented and uncoordinated.  STI capacity building requires a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary approach.  But the Bank’s internal sectoral boundaries and budgetary procedures often unwittingly prevent Bank staff from reaping these inter-disciplinary synergies.  While STI capacity building is high on the international development agenda, many PRSPs fail even to mention STI capacity building, which is not surprising since the Bank/IMF guidelines for preparing PRSPs also fail to provide guidance on how to address these issues.

Alfred Watkins, World Bank Science and Technology Program Coordinator discussed those issues in his presentation on "Science and Technology Capacity Building For Development".  This presentation highlighted several critical STI development issues confronting the Bank and describe a proposed work plan for meeting these challenges.

Presentation: Science and Technology Capacity Building For Development (, 2.2MB)

World Bank Science, Technology, and Innovation website