UNESCO and the Government of India signed an agreement in New Delhi, India, on 14 July 2006 for the establishment of a Regional Centre for Biotechnology Training and Education in India, as a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO following the approval of this proposal at the 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference. The Regional Centre will combine teaching and research with a strong focus on capacity building and it is envisaged it will provide advanced biotechnology training and research opportunities for scientists throughout Asia.
The meeting of the Board of Governors follows on from a consultative meeting of experts held in New Delhi in 2007 which provided an opportunity for consulting with experts from the scientific community both at the regional and international level in order to define existing areas of expertise and the priority focus for the Centre as well as the basic working structure and potential for start up activities within existing structures in collaboration with international partners.
The opening session of the Board of Governors meeting included interventions by Mr Marcio Barbosa, Deputy Director-General, UNESCO, H.E. Mrs Bhaswati Mukherjee, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, Prof M.K. Bhan, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, Mr Maciej Nalecz, Director, Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences, UNESCO and Dr. D.M. Salunke, Deputy Director, National Institute of Immunology and who currently holds the interim responsibility for the Regional Centre. The Honorable Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, made an unexpected appearance and addressed the assembly briefly.
The major points raised at the meeting were:
The future:
Within the next months, it is expected that the post of Director for this Centre will be filled. The post was advertised in June 2008 in national journals as well as few international scientific journals like Nature. The process of shortlisting is ongoing.
Similarly, the operational guidelines for the Executive Committee and the Programme Advisory Committee as well as the Terms of Reference for these will be finalized and these entities established.
The Government of India has agreed to earmark several slots for the participation of scientists from the region, in training activities in India. In this context, it is envisaged that a number of fellowships and PhD placements will be made available during 2009 for students from the region, and that a year-long science finishing school programme will also be initiated during this time. In 2010 will begin the establishment of a series of masters’ programmes in areas such as bioengineering, bioinformatics and drug discovery science, as well as other training initiatives.
UNESCO is expected to assist in facilitating contact with Member States in the Region and with international collaboration with its partners.
For more information please contact: Ms Lucy Hoareau, Programme Specialists, SC/BES, UNESCO HQ.