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Formation of startups and new companies
Commercial exploitation of science, technology, and novelty
System of laws, regulations, strategies, and funding priorities
Discovery and creation of new knowledge of the natural world
Application of new knowledge towards useful social ends
By: Tan Sri Omar Abdul Rahman
The government’s science and technology (S&T) apparatus is now in active consultations to formulate the third national S&T policy (NSTP3) and I have been involved in some and benefitted from them.
In an earlier article (NST 9/7/11), I had briefly described the two previous policies and given some thoughts on what the essentials of the NSTP3 should be. I am now offering further thoughts on the subject.
However, let us first briefly revisit the evolution of science policies in general. Initially it was just a “science policy” emphasizing the need to do “good science”. Then it was an “S&T policy”, linking knowledge (science) do its application (technology). Much later there was a move for a policy for “science for technology for development” focusing on harnessing S&T for national development. This gave rise to the concept of science for development (role of S&T in implementing development) and development for science (measures to strengthen S&T capacity). Currently it is “science, technology and innovation (STI)” policy, implying that doing good science is not good enough. Science must translate into innovative technologies at the marketplace. In other words STI must be an instrument of economic transformation program (ETP), (STI for policy) and in turn STI must be strengthened so it can deliver (Policy for STI).
In this connection, it is important to recognize the two crucial parallel systems of research, development and commercialization (R,D&C) and STI. Research gives knowledge (science), development results in technology which becomes innovation when applied or commercialized.
By: Frank Lehner
Published in Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy on 30 August 2011.
The idea of generating solar energy on a large scale in the sun-intensive countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to satisfy their own increasing energy demand and to export surplus energy to Europe as advocated in the DESERTEC concept1 has publicly received much attention in some countries, particularly in Germany, Morocco, Tunisia, and also substantial support from their governments. Besides the DESERTEC Foundation, an industrial consortium (Dii GmbH) was founded in 2009 which consists of major European and MENA companies to push this project further b...
By: Athar Osama Published at SciDev.Net on 11 August 2011
Ambitious plans for a ‘desert development corridor’ in Egypt could provide a concrete example of the social value of science, says Athar Osama.
Last month, the journal Science published a supplement called ‘Revolutionizing Egypt’s Science’ that hailed the prospects for Egyptian science after the 25 January revolution. Its optimism reflected a spate of initiatives and increased science budgets announced by the new government to demonstrate its commitment to science and innovation.
But some have rightly warned against reading too much into recent announcements, saying there are still...
By: Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid
On March 30, 2010, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the New Economic Model (NEM) with the objective of doubling the current per capita income of approximately US$7,000 to US$15,000 by 2020. The NEM is a package comprising of the 1Malaysia concept, the Economic Transformation Programme, the Government Transformation Programme and the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).
However, to be sustainable in the long run, the NEM initiatives need underpinning by a strong set of fundamentals embedded in knowledge — a solid mastery in science and technology, a penchant for innovation and a culture of doing well in Science and Mathematic...
By: Athar Osama
Published on SciDev.Net on 15 December 2011
Arab Spring revolutionaries turning to governance must adopt knowledge and innovation as barometers for progress, says Athar Osama.
As revolutions swept countries and shook governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region this year, they created opportunities for greater public voice in governance. Tunisia, for example, recently went through an election, and the Egyptian people are in the process of electing an assembly whose job is to write a new constitution.
And as revolutionaries turn to governance, they will have to address the socioeconomic and cultural challenges facing ten...
By: Frank Lehner
Published in Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy on 30 August 2011.
The idea of generating solar energy on a large scale in the sun-intensive countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to satisfy their own increasing energy demand and to export surplus energy to Europe as advocated in the DESERTEC concept1 has publicly received much attention in some countries, particularly in Germany, Morocco, Tunisia, and also substantial support from their governments. Besides the DESERTEC Foundation, an industrial consortium (Dii GmbH) was founded in 2009 which consists of major European and MENA companies to push this project further b...
By: Dr. Athar Osama
Muslim-Science.Com met with Tan Sri Dr. Omar Abdur Rahman, Mahathir’s Science Advisor for over a decade and half and, the “prime mover” behind Mahathir Mohammed’s vision of a Knowledge-driven Malaysia. A deeply humble man, Tan Sri Omar insists that Mahathir was a science policymaker par excellence in his own right and that he would hardly have needed a science advisor. However, he played a critical role in providing scientific credibility to Mahathir’s plans and helping the Prime Minister reach out to the scientific community to build support for his policies.
As Malaysia’s first and longest serving Science Advisor – a position t...
