Science
Magazine : African Leaders Endorse Science Initiatives
Science reports:- Science and technology (S&T), although billed as the main themes of last week's African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, had to wait as leaders addressed pressing issues such as the Darfur conflict.
But on the last day, the heads of state approved initiatives aimed at bolstering research and increasing the continent's clout on intellectual-property issues. With little public debate, the leaders urged member states to revitalize their universities and spend at least 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development by 2010. In addition, the summit called for more extensive S&T agreements with other developing regions, announced new scholarships to stimulate the study of science, and declared 2007 to be Africa's "scientific innovation year."
"Maintaining
the status quo is not an option for Africa," said Rwandan President
Paul Kagame. He said Rwanda planned to double its S&T spending to
3% of GDP over the next 5 years and bolster its research institutions.
Most African nations are now well below the 1% benchmark. Agronomist John
Mugabe, who directs the S&T office of the New Partnership for African
Development, which promotes social and economic progress in Africa, says
the key point is that "the presidents themselves committed to strengthening
science and technology."