Since 1993, UNESCO has been promoting interaction between science, technology, innovation and economic development via its University-Industry Science Partnership (UNISPAR) Programme.

In the Arab States in the 1990s, the UNISPAR programme developed the Science and Technology Management Arab Regional Network (STEMARN). This network includes an S&T management information system for R&D policy-making, the transfer of know-how and technology, commercialization of S&T innovation and the compilation and evaluation of S&T indicators. It is hosted by UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Science in the Arab States, situated in Cairo.

A second network in science and technology management was set up in the Asia-Pacific region: the Science and Technology Policy Asia Network (STEPAN). In parallel, UNESCO industry-supported Chairs were established with Japanese support in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam. It is hosted by UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Science in Asia, situated in Jakarta.

In Latin America, UNISPAR supported the development of science and technology policy in Panama, Peru and Argentina.

In Europe, the UNISPAR programme cooperated with UNISPAR working groups and developed an interest in Foresight for Development. Reform of the Research & Development system in the Republic of Moldova was carried out in cooperation with the European Centre for Higher Education (CEPES) in Bucharest (Romania), a UNESCO institute. Training sessions were also run on the management of S&T innovation systems in Albania, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and the former Yugoslavia.

For details of the UNISPAR programme in Africa, click here.

For details on the UNISPAR programme since 2002, click here.

For details, contact the focal point.