The timeliness of the 'Science with Africa' initiative is evidenced by the EU-Africa Summit's adoption of a renewed strategic partnership, including a chapter on Science, Information Society and Space.
The chapter emphasizes the priority to strengthen cooperation on science and technology programs and to promote the application of S&T to achieve specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as promote the participation of the African research community into European programs.
The conference will examine methodologies for improving science program participation by scientists and researchers in African nations.
The three day event will be divided into three pillars: science and innovation policy, science themes and innovation and will consist of plenary sessions and workshops.
Speakers will include senior policy makers from Africa and around the world, eminent scientists, research project managers, experts in proposal preparation and IP and patent specialists.
The 'Science with Africa' conference will be a follow-up to the January 2007 summit meeting of heads of African states in which the leaders declared 2007 the year of science and technology and strongly urged all member countries to allocate 1% of their gross domestic product to R&D by 2020.
According to Abdoulie Janneh, the UN Economic Commission for Africa's Executive Secretary, "For Africa to accelerate its development and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, African countries have to scale up their investments in Science and Technology."
The event will play a major role in promoting and consolidating strategic research collaboration between African states and the rest of the world.
To further raise awareness of the 'Science with Africa' initiative on the global arena, a congressional briefing is scheduled on 8 February 2008 in Washington DC.
Registration is now open for the Science with Africa conference. The conference is free of charge.
To further conference details and registration, please visit: www.sciencewithafrica.com/
Source: UNECA
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