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Science and Technology for Development and the World Bank Watch Video Connection Speed: High Speed Low Speed Audio    Event Title : Science and Technology for Development and the World Bank Date : 11/29/2004 Duration : 01:15.000 minutes Language  : English Country/Region : World Keyword :  Economic Development     Presenter : Jean-Louis Sarbib James Wolfensohn | Related Material | Recommendations |Related B-SPAN Videos |  DESCRIPTION  On November 29, 2004 the World Bank’s Human Development Network hosted a stocktaking meeting on science and technology for development. The meeting aimed to enhance understanding of the role that science and technology can play in development strategies and to assess current strategies on behalf of the World Bank and other organizations for utilizing science and technology for development purposes. Additionally, participants sought to identify strategies for continued and more effective implementation of science and technology. Jean-Louis Sarbib, Vice President for the World Bank’s Human Development Unit, introduced the topic by saying that science and technology can make or break development initiatives. For this reason, sharing past strategies and planning future ones is essential to ensuring science and technology are harnessed to foster development. The wrap-up session included reports from the five break-out sessions (not recorded for B-SPAN). Their remarks were synthesized into key recommendations, which were presented to World Bank President James Wolfenshon. The five topics discussed during the break-out sessions were: establishing a cross-sectoral approach; providing support for the creation and dissemination of global public goods; strengthening national innovation systems; enhancing science and technology strategies at the regional level; and harnessing indigenous knowledge. After the remarks from the rapporteurs, Sarbib offered some initial feedback. He expressed concern that none of the recommendations emphasized the role of education, asserting that education is the foundation for any science and technology program. After his brief comments, Sarbib shared the group’s findings with President Wolfensohn. Wolfensohn began his remarks by explaining his reasoning for encouraging the dialogue on science and technology for development. While the World Bank has engaged in science and technology initiatives for many years, he said, the issue is too important not to examine more closely. Wolfensohn hoped that the meeting would provide an opportunity for close scrutiny of the Bank’s initiatives in science and technology and offer real strategies for improving its role and scaling up those initiatives with strong positive results. Following his comments, participants engaged President Wolfensohn in a question and answer period.  RELATED MATERIALS   N/A Related B-SPAN Events: Technological Change and Growth: The Case of Electronics in Taiwan Understanding the "How To" of Technological Change for Growth RELATED B-SPAN EVENTS Economic Development (416)