Capacity Building through International Research Collaboration Professor Thomas Rosswall Executive Director ICSU, Paris

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest2 The World: Rising Inequities Inequities are rising within countries and between countries Assets of world’s 3 richest people exceed combined GDP of poorest 48 countries World’s 15 richest people have assets that exceed total GDP of Sub-Saharan Africa I. Serageldin, IAC

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest3 The Knowledge Divide OECD countries spend more on R&D than economic output of the 61 poorest nations High income countries earn 42 time that of low income countries but spend 218 times more on research IBM was granted 2756 patents in the US (1999), while 134 countries together were granted 2643 World Bank S&T Strategy

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest4 Status of Science in Africa Public budget cuts Higher education and research systems in decline National coordination bodies dissolved or with no political influence Nearly no recruitment during the 1990s Poor salaries – staff often go unpaid Brain drain J. Gaillard, IFS and IRD, Johannesburg 2002

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest5 Bending the Curves The Gap Time 2003

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest6 Bending the Curves Support of individuals Support of institutions Support of national science policies Change of attitudes

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest7 Support of Individuals - Recurring Difficulties Equipment repairs Purchasing equipment Access to equipment Access to scientific documentation Access to vehicle Access to supplies Lack of technicians Data processing Field work difficulties Lack of time IFS MESIA Report 2 (2001)

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest8 Action Expand small comptetitive grant schemes to young scientists (IFS-TWAS model) Training courses for repair and mentainenace of equipment (e.g.,IFS, TWAS) Strengthen efforts to provide scientific literature (e.g., INASP) Training courses in writing grant applications and scientific papers (e.g., IFS) Networking S-S and N-S through collaboration in international coordinated research

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest9 Coordinated Research The four global change programmes, especially IGBP and WCRP, provide the framework for the science on which IPCC assessments are built.

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest10 an integrated study of the Earth System, the changes occurring to the System, and the implications for global sustainability. Earth System Science Partnership

START Mission To conduct research through regional networks of collaborating scientists and institutions To enhance scientific capacity in developing countries To mobilize the resources for activities in developing countries Bellagio Report, 1990

Portfolio of START Activities Capacity Building Regional Research Cross-cutting, Integrative activities

Capacity Building Activities Types of START Capacity Building ProgramsTo-date Regional Science Planning and Research Workshops:75+ Collaborative Research Networks:50+ Short Term Fellowships: 175 Visiting Scientists and Lecturers: 121 Dissertation/PhD fellowships: 25 Small Grants Program: 100+ Young Scientists Awards: 163 Advanced Institutes:30 Training Institutes/Courses:150+ ß ~ 1500 scholars from developing countries involved in START activities in ~ 150 young scientists currently conducting research under START support

Impacts Regional Anthropogenic Forcing Integrated Monsoon System Industrial Emission Land Use Physical Monsoon Process Atmospheric Chemistry Biological Process Tibet Solar Radiation Land/ Ocean Sustainable development of the region Natural Forcing Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Studies

Assessments of Impacts & Adaptation to Climate Change (AIACC) Objectives Build capacity in developing countries for research in support of climate change adaptation Advance scientific understanding of climate change impacts, adaptations and vulnerabilities Link the research community with the policy community to support national communications and adaptation planning

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest16 No size fits all The regions are different The countries are different Inequalities within countries (top 100 US Universities account for 80% of federal R&D funding; the remaining 2350 for 20%) All the capacity building components are essential: They reinforce each other The whole is more than the sum of the parts

11 November 2005World Science Forum - Budapest17 We have identified the problems. There are solutions