Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Science and Technology

This conference brought together decision-makers, academics, members of government, and leaders from various facets of civil society to discuss ways in which to better, and more directly, harness scientific and technological progress for the promotion of peace and sustainable development. The large number of participants, hailing from many regions, reflected the importance science and technology has taken on in the international agenda. The Conference explored salient issues such as access to knowledge and benefit sharing, the scope of intellectual property protection, and the ethical boundaries of scientific enquiry. At the centre of the discussions was the creation of knowledge societies in which science and technology are neither the sole realm of academics nor the preserve of an elite segment of society enjoying a privileged access to the benefits and products of scientific achievement. Rather, these knowledge societies should utilize the processes of globalization to foster knowledge creation, sharing and diffusion for the benefit of all.