The World Bank Group: Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity Building and Disaster Risk Management Geophysical Hazards and Plate Boundary Processes in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean Oct 24-28, 2010
For Discussion The general role of the Bank Group How does the Bank Group support STI capacity building and partnerships? The Bank s role in Disaster Risk Management and opportunities for data sharing / partnerships
World Bank Vision It is the vision of the World Bank Group to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable globalization to overcome poverty, enhance growth with care for the environment, and create individual opportunity and hope. - World Bank President, Robert B. Zoellick
World Bank Sector Programs Agriculture Energy Climate Change Water and Sanitation Higher Education DRM Global Health Sustainable Development Good Governance STI is a Key Dimension of These Programs
World Bank Strengths Knowledge of the country and various sectors Involvement in preparation of PRSP and CAS BUT limited scientific/ technical capacity Financing to help transform partnership proposals into game changing policies and programs and to support essential systemic policy reforms BUT limited capacity to fund regional initiatives Convening power around critical development issues like STI capacity building, global warming, food crisis, urbanization, growth, MDGs, etc. BUT searching for a strategic STI partnership vision 5
WB Knowledge Strategy STI Global Expert Team Key Role of Partnerships Innovation at the Heart of Development
Game Changers in STI Partnerships: What Can We Implement? Training an STI Workforce - Global Science Corps Inclusive Innovation, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Programs Strategic and Regional Research and Development Efforts Scaling up Existing STI Partnerships New Financial Mechanisms for Regional and Sustainable Support
STI Capacity Building Partnerships Should Be: Systemic: For game-changing, systemic results, need to build capacity in individual institutions while also improving governance of the broader system Sustainable: Improvements need to be able to endure after initial funding runs out Synergistic: For optimal development impact, should strive to improve all links of the STI capacity building chain 8
STI Capacity Building STI Policy Making / Science in Policy Making Enterprise Innovation Human Resource Capacity Building STI Capacity Building Technology Transfer Acquire Existing Knowledge R&D to adapt knowledge for local solutions Not about abstract, theoretical science But about finding practical solutions to practical social and economic development problems Need to focus on all links in the chain ignoring even one weakens the development impact!! 9
STI Vicious Circle Weak partners for external groups Weak human capital Limited support for funding increases Minimal funding and poor governance for STI Brain drain Poor quality science Limited commercial application Low social and economic relevance 10
Fostering Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship: Challenge Much of the technology that developing countries need to solve their problems already exists and is in widespread use elsewhere. Therefore, developing countries must build the capacity to find, absorb and use these technologies. Current STI systems in most countries are not geared to spinning-in, adapting, and spinning out existing technology. Bank plays lead role in establishing tech transfer centers and mobilizing technical partners to provide requisite operational training and innovation-readiness assessments. Adapt it for local use spin out to local firms Import or spin-in technology 11
WBG Tools Money Mentoring Markets Management Technical know-how
Relevant Science & Technology
Inclusive Innovation $20 bucks
The STI Global Expert Team and Global Forum Action Plan Robust Client Demand - Government officials and Bank TTLs in both MICs and LICs are calling on the STI GET to provide the how-to knowhow needed to convert STI capacity building intentions into STI capacity building programs, private sector/sme business opportunities, and sustainable growth Global Forum and Action Plan - explored how well-designed capacity building partnerships can: (i) foster inclusive innovations, (ii) promote innovation and entrepreneurship via technology commercialization; and (iii) train the next generation of knowledge workers External Partnerships - the Bank is being called on to intermediate knowledge and capacity building flows between developing country clients with specific development needs and local and global partners who possess a great deal of the technical expertise needed to address these problems
Project Examples 2009 Global Forum and Action Plan MIT-World Bank Partnership Carnegie / RISE Higher Education Program OECD Global Science Forum on R&D Collaboration Tunisia Technology Development Strategy Arab World Initiative Madinah Knowledge Cities conference Inclusive Innovation Project for Vietnam Review of South Asia Centers of Excellence Initiative
Bank Group s DRM Work Identification of problems Data collection and tool building Provide evidence-based advice and solutions to governments/other stakeholders Keep the Bank s contribution relevant and coordinated with other activities Include DRM as a component for other Bank programs (i.e., land use, infrastructure, education) $ Billions in funding through grants and loans for DRM tools, data collection, technical/policy services, knowledge sharing and on-the-ground support
Virtual Disaster Viewer www.virtualdisasterviewer.com OPEN DATA
WWW.GEONODE.ORG
WWW.UNDERSTANDRISK.ORG
Thank You Joshua Mandell jmandell@worldbank.org www.worldbank.org/sti