The Fourth African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST IV) By Amr Farouk, PhD The Ministry Of Scientific Research, Egypt

Background-1 The African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST, since 2003) is a Specialized Technical Committee of the African Union. It promotes Pan-African activities, including the development of common science, technology and innovation policies and programmes in Africa.

Background-2 Attended by ministers of science and technology and their representatives from 45 African countries in addition to the World Health Organization and the Office of the European Union and the European Space Agency, UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization, JICA, Japan, in addition to a number of international institutions and organizations concerned with science and technology in the world. Egypt is the chair for the coming two years.

Outcomes-1 AUC has announced, about the creation of a continental project on Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory, which Equatorial Guinea has offered to host and availed $3.6million seed fund. The agreement is expected to be signed very soon. Also, two projects will be submitted to the European Union to develop the necessary funding for them within the framework of EU-Africa partnership. Egypt also participated in meetings and discussions of GMES European Space Programme, which aims to activate the system, the space between the European and African countries that have programs in space, such as Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, South African It also offered a number of reports from international bodies and organizations, as well as initiatives and proposed projects in preparation for the approval and adoption by the ministers of science and technology and reports included several projects including: Project Telescope, South Africa, and the draft of the African Network for Drugs and innovation, ANDI, and the Network project of science and technology and education to use applications high speed in the areas of science and technology and distance education GLORIAD

Outcomes-2 The Meeting has accepted the offer of Egypt's to host of the workshop in collaboration with the African Korean Institute for assessment, planning and performance monitoring of science and technology, which will be held in Cairo in November It was also agreed on the choice of Congo Brazzaville in Central Africa for the seat of the fifth session of the Conference of Ministers of Science and Technology of Africans.

Future Plan For AMCOST IV Implementation of the Africas Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA), To support the efforts to establish Pan African Intellectual Property Organization (PAIPO) To Support STI in Africa A Decade of Science And Technology Of Africa From 2011 Past recommendations Your Suggestions