International Conference and Ministerial Round Table
Why Invest in Science in South Eastern Europe?
28 & 29 September 2006, Ljubljana, Slovenia
GENERAL FRAMEWORK
In 2001, UNESCO Office in Venice launched a regional initiative in favor of strengthening scientific cooperation between countries from South Eastern Europe (SEE). Two major events were organized by the UNESCO Office in Venice within this framework: an International Conference of experts from SEE (Venice, March 2001) and a Round Table of Ministers of Science from SEE (Paris, October 2001). UNESCO’s commitments towards the sub-region were further emphasized on the occasion of the high-level Conference entitled ‘Strengthening Cooperation between UNESCO and its South East European Member States’, convened by the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, in April 2002 in Paris. Since these dates, the recommendations and the Final communiqué adopted by the Round Table of Ministers of Science of SEE countries have shaped UNESCO’s Venice Office activities and support towards science-related activities in the sub-region. In these efforts, the governments and the scientific communities particularly of Slovenia, Austria, Greece and Italy have been notably active and supportive.
RATIONALE
South East European economies are facing the challenge of catching up with the enlarged EU and the constitution of the European Research Area. To reach this objective, a strong shift towards changes supportive to knowledge driven economy is a prerequisite.
Up to now, investments in science, knowledge and innovation did not constitute priorities of national and regional development strategies and programmes. A dominance of transition and post-war challenges has marginalized activities in science and technology (S&T). As a result, S&T systems in the region have eroded while international cooperation have not yet strongly developed despite proliferation of variety of science and innovation networks in broader neighborhood.
This calls for establishing a rationale to science and innovation support in SEE countries as well as for better understanding of how science, knowledge and innovation mutually interact and how they affect growth in these economies. Modern growth is driven by increasing knowledge content in a variety of traditional and new activities. Hence, it is of utmost importance for the SEE countries to raise awareness of these issues as well as to explore ways how science and knowledge could be harnessed for growth, socio-economic development and stability in the region.
The starting point for the deliberations of the conference is the low priority given to investments in science by the decision makers of the SEE countries as well as by providers of Official Development Assistance (ODA). S&T systems of the SEE countries are under-funded but also their orientation and degree of restructuring seems to be inadequate. This creates a vicious circle where low funding serves as justification for inability to restructure these systems while non-restructured S&T systems are used as justification for inadequate funding. In addition, there is misperception that science and innovation are not relevant for socio-economic growth and stability in the region.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the conference is to contribute to a better understanding of the interrelation between investments in science and knowledge and socio-economic development in general, as well as specifically with regard to present situation in South-Eastern European countries.
The conference shall provide the knowledge base for policy-makers to improve allocation of funds for investments in science and research and to identify accompanying measures which will lead to enhanced socio-economic development in SEE countries as well as in other parts of the world.
MAIN TOPICS
The Conference will convene in two days and discussions will be organised into four sessions:
I. SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND WEALTH GENERATION: STATE OF THE ART AND BEST PRACTICES
· Science, innovation and knowledge based development: what do we know and what are the policy implications?
· Contribution of science and innovation to socio-economic development
· Harnessing science and knowledge for dialogue and peace: best practice cases
II. GLOBALISATION VS. MARGINALISATION OF INNOVATION SYSTEMS IN SEE: COUNTRY AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES
III. EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN SEE
HIGH-LEVEL ROUND TABLE: SCIENCE AND INNOVATION POLICIES IN SEE
Issues for discussion:
CONTACTS
For information on the Conference programme:
Iulia Nechifor (i.nechifor@unesco.org, tel: +390412601516)
Slavi Krušič (slavi.krusic@gov.si, tel. 386 1 478 46 71)
Miroslav Polzer (polzer@zsi.at, tel.: 386 1 5684 168, mob.+43 664 4203648)
For organisational details:
Gorazd Weiss (weiss@zsi.at, tel: +38615684168, mob, +38631637424)
© Copyright 2006. ASO Ljubljana
