African Heads of State have endorsed a 20-year biotechnology action plan for the African Union, but held off committing to a science and innovation fund.
The biotechnology strategy will bolster cooperation between African nations in specific regions according to regional strengths. Eastern and northern Africa will focus on improving malaria control and managing HIV/AIDS, while North Africa will share its experience on drug manufacturing. Eastern Africa will share its expertise in livestock research technology, while western Africa will concentrate on agricultural biotechnology and central Africa on biodiversity.
Countries will be grouped into regional economic bodies in order to implement the goals outlined in the strategy. They will then report back to the African Union.
Proposals for an African Science and Innovation Fund (ASIF) were however rejected, with Heads of State saying that further studies on the proposal are needed. The impasse is due to concern that creating a new institution could swallow a large proportion of available funds and increase operational costs.
The summit agreed instead to link a fund to a wider plan intended to finance the Union’s Consolidated Plan of Action.
Category: Miscellaneous
Data Source Provider: Press sources (SciDev.Net)
Document Reference: Based on information from press sources
Subject Index: Biotechnology; Economic Aspects; Scientific Research
RCN: 27061
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&DOC=46&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=0123f1cfd725:aaa8:247d0338&RCN=27061
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