STI for social justice and sustainable development: a New
STEPS Manifesto for Global Science
Lidia BritoUNESCO
Royal Society Policy LabLondon, 14th of June 2010
2
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