Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Making: Its Trends and Objectives in the Developing Countries

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy at the national level is expected to be commensurate with the challenges of the globalising society, it is observed that the STI potential of the developing countries often remains unexplored or underutilized due to lack of appropriate framework of formulation of the STI policy as well as inadequacies in its implementation mechanisms. While formulating, the national policy should take into account the availability of natural resources and human resource within the country; a planned long term forecast of the growth of various factors to achieve progressive economic prosperity till the planned period and beyond; projected import and export of raw materials; import of technology with its adaption to meet the local requirements; etc. Keeping the above in view, the Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) and the Technology Studies Institute (TSI) of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran organised an international workshop on 'Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Making for Developing Countries' during 28th November - 1st December 2014 at Kish Island, Iran. The above scientific event, which was attended by 26 experts, professionals, researchers and administrators from 13 countries, including Botswana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Mauritius, Myanmar, Palestine, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the host country Iran, facilitated the capacity building and exchange of information and expertise. The present book edited by Dr. Adnan Jawdat Judeh Yousef of Palestine, Dr. Budzanani Tacheba of Botswana and Ms. Maryam Shaeri of Iran is a follow up of the STI Policy Making workshop and comprises 22 scientific and technical papers contributed by eminent experts from 15 countries. The book has four sections, namely, STI Policy Developments; Institutional Setting and Processes; STI and Competitiveness; and Capacitating STI.