STI for social justice and sustainable development: a New

STEPS Manifesto for Global Science

Lidia BritoUNESCO

Royal Society Policy LabLondon, 14th of June 2010

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World of today

Local decisions-global impact- Globalized;

Facing climate changes: unexpected and probability of more extreme events - Uncertainty;

Population increase - Pressure Global crisis: food, energy and

financial - Poverty Where knowledge and technology is

more and more important- Inequalities;

The World Today

Growth of R&D and innovation activities Emergence of new economies in S&T Increased globalization, internationalization

and regionalization of S&T Increased worldwide need for human resources

in STI Enhanced internationalization and mobility of

highly skilled people Change in decision making process with the

emergence of new forms of governance More governments relying on science advice

for policy formulation S&T in the global international agenda

Mobilizing science for policy and policy for science to achieve the MDGs as well as to address global challenges

Responding to new environmental and societal demands that require a reorientation of R&D efforts as well as new approaches, which integrate both the national and supra-national dimension

Understanding and managing the complexity by integrating future, systemic, non-linear thinking in decision making

Increasing coordination of innovative and sectoral policies in response to complex challenges generated by global social and economic changes

Finding an appropriate balance between public and private funding of R&D efforts

Coping with human resources shortage in science

Participation of Women in science Ensuring links between science and

traditional knowledge systems Ensuring free flow and exchange of scientific

information, including that related to traditional knowledge

Involving a large number of partners by creating a multi-stakeholders participatory process to science decision making

Equity/Autonomy

Our biggest challenge?

Resources

Technology

Development & growth

Market

Happiness and joy

Power

Terms of trade

Values and good governance

The Manifesto Vision:

Science and Technology works for social justice, poverty alleviation

and the environment.

A new Vision?

Science and Technology to mobilize, through innovation, the social energy needed for sustainable development and sustainable

societies.

STI: Knowledge and know-how, capacity to understand issues and propose alternative solutions for the existing and the new problems. choices of the development path to follow;

Social energy: endogenous, local potential to solve local and global issues, autonomy for action, commitment, potential to scale-up with little or no “push”;

Development: improve conditions of life, actions towards social, cultural and economic growth

Societies: values, ownership, local knowledge and know-how, cultural richness, social and cultural networks,

Culture of Science

Based in the countries’ potential to solve global

issues;

Local knowledge and innovation capacities;

Based on the local realities and addressing

the common good;

Inclusive

People’s centered

ETHICS EMPOWERMENT

Change in the decision making process

Interface between science and policy

Improved articulation between S&T and the development process

Increasing level of competence in S&T required to make science governance decisions

Communication between scientists and decision makers

Change in the decision making process

Science, policy and society interface

Ethical concerns Public nature of scientific debate Demand by the public for greater

participation in S&T decision-making process

Emergence of global citizenship related to trans-boundary issues (climate change, environment, etc.)

Common vision for the role of STI for development and STI Indicators

Strategic thinking: prioritize and mobilize the social energy that exists in society and spurs innovation

STI policies that are cross-cutting, integrated and that create a structural base for the other policies

An approach of research that goes beyond research about, moving towards research for, with and by.

Human capital: more and with highest quality Commitment: Invest consistently and at long-

term the necessary resources to initiate the building up of knowledge societies

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Science policies: transversal and structural?

Articulation and Coordination

Capacity Building

Production/transfer

Financial

Legal

EDUCATION

RESEARCH

INOVATION

DISSEMINATION

Sectorial Policies

To contribute to poverty eradication through the use and appropriation

of S&T advancementsImplementation mechanisms

VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

Strategies to be used (1)

1. Quality Education for all:

Transformation of mentalities and visions;

Abilities to transform those visions into reality;

Building scientific and technical skills and social support to apply them;

Build up conviction and commitment for pursuing sustainable development;

New Education and Social and Economic

practices Media

Educationprocesses

Social and Economic Processes

Principles and Values of

Action Research

Strategies to be used (2)

2. Networks

Deep understanding of factors influencing global policy making processes;

Capacity to contextualize the policies at national and regional level;

Capacity to critically analyze impacts; Capacity to develop alternative policies.

Build ownership and commitment: engage local stakeholders in the design, implementation and resources :o Build Partnerships with Governments,

productive sector, civil society: PPP are very important

o Develop link between knowledge-technology and practical solutions to everyday problems

 Develop Steering mechanisms: peer-review, financial, institutional and research agendas

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(c 5)

(c 4)

(c 3)

(c 1)

(c 2)

(b 5)

(b 6) (b 4)

(b 3)

(b 1)

(b 2)

(d 3) (d 4)

(d 1)

(d 2)

(a 4) (a 3)

(a 1)

(a 2)

Netof

Scient.

Netof

Excell.

INSTITUTIONAL NETWORKS

• More than sharing: towards common research agenda;

• More human capacity and more resources;

• Synergies for institutional growth;

• Sustainability and growth.

• We should speak of Networks of Excellence

A Network for Sustainable development?

NFEx

Primary

schools

CivilSociety

BusinessCommunity

Ministries

Media

NFEx

Primary

schools

CivilSociety

BusinessCommunity

Ministries

others

NFEx

Primary

schools

CivilSociety

BusinessCommunity

Ministries

others

NFEx

Primary

schools

CivilSociety

BusinessCommunity

Ministries

others

NetForExc.

• Embedded in the society;

• Partnerships with Governments, productive sector, civil society;

• Developing the social contract with science;

• Supporting endogenous capacities;

• Using diversity to sustain development;

Effective response

Strategies to be used (3)

3. Building sustainability: o capacity to intervene and to maintain systems,

to connect production systems and knowledge management systems

o developing local industry through promotion of partnerships and access to knowledge: SME and large companies

4. Fair trade: negotiate better Intellectual property rights and market conditions, and acquire capacity to influence international power structures;

Final remarks …

Enabling environment: Leadership: common vision and public

good; Ownership: Participation, people-centered

development, and autonomy; Conviction: prioritize actions with widest

impact (Development priorities); Commitment: Increase of funding; Re-learning capacity: education-research-

education; Ethics: true partners Thank you