2 December 2008
Addis Abeba — A new joint initiative by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the US-based Research Triangle Institute (RTI) will train African sientists in the US in a bid to help promising research reach the commercial market place and strengthen the foundations of science and business development in Africa.
The new initiative, African Science to Business Challenge will solicit proposals in the biomedical engineering and water quality fields from researchers who are interested in receiving additional training in the United States to commercialize their proposals, according to a statement from UNECA in Addis Ababa.
"The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is proud to partner with RTI International on this important effort," Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of UNECA and UN Under-Secretary-General said in the statement.
"This unique collaboration is based on the premise that the African Science to Business Challenge can turn scientific knowledge into viable economic activities and enterprises," he added.
The challenge is designed to balance the need for scientific research that addresses immediate social and economic needs while building Africa's capacities in science and technology.
"We are pleased to support this professional development opportunity for promising researchers seeking to commercialize their discoveries," said Victoria Haynes, President and CEO of RTI International.
"Creating the link between science and the commercial marketplace is a key component of our mission to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice." A major aim of the initiative is to support the African development process based on the notion that science is a key strategy to business and enterprise development, which in yurn creates employment and wealth, the statment indicated.
The initiative is the result of Science with Africa conference held in March 2008 in Addis Ababa, which emphasised on business development in the scientific fields.
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In Uganda he is still fighting a never-ending war with LRA because it fits his agenda of ruling a polarized Uganda by keeping the northern part… [Read Full Text]