|
This is the second phase of
the RIS work programme on biotechnology and Asian development
launched in 2001 with support from the Department of
Biotechnology, Government of India. As part of this programme RIS
initiated studies on strategies of various national governments in
Asia in the area of biotechnology. This programme also facilitated
the publication of Asian Biotechnology and Development Review
(ABDR) which now appears thrice a year. This programme has also
supported developing an informal network of policy makers,
researchers and practitioners working on different aspects of
biotechnology. In this context RIS has started a series of Asia
level policy dialogues organized every two years called
Conferences on Biotechnology for Asian Development to facilitate
exchange of experiences within the region. The second conference
was organized by RIS in April 2004 in collaboration with CII, IUCN
with the support of DBT and UNESCO. The April conference further
strengthened the informal network. RIS is in touch with these
institutions for follow up of the recommendations. IUCN Regional
Office has entered into a MoU with RIS for institutional
collaboration on these issues. The Third conference in the series
would be hosted by the Philippines in April 2006. Another ongoing
study explores potential and relevance of regional cooperation in
biotechnology for Asian development. This paper, conducted in the
framework of the ongoing work on Asian Economic Community, deals
with the patterns of complementarity in capabilities in Asia, the
relevance of regional cooperation for meeting the common needs and
suggests a way forward.
Research Team: Dr. Sachin
Chaturvedi
|