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Meeting on Emerging Technologies and Developing Countries, 28-29 November 2006, Islamabad - Pakistan INTRODUCTION The ongoing scientific discoveries and advancements in new emerging technologies has become a hallmark of progress in today's world. The influence of science on people's lives is continuously growing. While recent benefits to humanity are unparalleled in the history of human kind, yet these need to be optimized by further exploring and exploiting the emerging technologies. Science and technology has spawned from the basis of all human activity, from the houses that we live in, the food that we eat, the cars that we drive, to the electronic gadgetry in our houses that we use to remain informed and entertained. Technological progress plays a highly productive role in economic growth and development; it helps in job creation, facilitates higher agricultural output (which is the major concern of most of the developing counties), and provides breakthrough in health care and education systems as well as helps in adding greater value to goods and services at lower prices for consumers. There are numerous fields of science and technology that are expected to revolutionize the world once again, and that too pretty soon. Some of these emerging technologies include: nano-technology, biotechnology, information and communication technology, fusion technology, technology of composite materials, etc. Nano-technology is often referred to as a general-purpose technology. That's because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on industries and society. It offers better built, long lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for domestic usage, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general. The effects of any new technology introduced on the scale anticipated for biotechnology extend beyond the factories and research centers influencing our everyday lives. The potential benefits of biotechnology include solving world food shortages, improvements in medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences. An increasing role for biotechnology in environmental management will undoubtedly follow. Because the prospect of serious biohazards appears to be receding, it does not mean that strict regulation of the new technology should be relaxed. Provided such vigilance is maintained, mankind can look forward to a wide range of exciting prospects that stem from biotechnology. Information & communications technology will continue to play a role in the future work of professionals, especially the ones engaged in agriculture and health care. Biotechnology and information & communications technology are symbiotic in terms of their potential economic impact for agricultural producers. Information technology coupled with communications technology has an enormously important role to play in building the social capability to generate information and to apply knowledge for sustainable development. The emergence of new capabilities is closely linked to the progress of scientific and technical innovation. Scientific discoveries and technological innovations in Information communication Technologies (ICTs) are moving at a pace and with impacts that are unprecedented. Those with access to these innovations - and those who have the capacity to absorb them and use them - will have opportunities to reap social and economic advantages. Those without access and the appropriate capabilities risk being marginalized in the 'knowledge societies' of the future. Primarily it is these three domains (nano, bio and information communications) of science and technology that is expected to radically transform our way of life. It is not only for the developed nations to excel in these fields, rather it is an equal and essential responsibility on the part of developing nations to catch up and bridge the digital divide between the two poles. Developing countries can swiftly place themselves into an advantageous position and towards a prosperous future by riding the tide of emerging technologies. Every nation has the obligation to develop itself and build the capacities in new and emerging technologies, because these technologies are expected to provide long term solutions for sustainable development. Keeping in view the importance of these three vital spheres of science and technology, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) has planned to organize an international meeting on “Emerging Technologies and Developing Countries”. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the meeting are to:
SCHEDULE VENUE REGISTRATION The Contact Persons Mr. Tajammul Hussain Mr. Irfan Hayee |
