Worldwide Technology Gap Concerns Scientists and Physicians
Fifty-eight percent of the 2,100+ respondents to a poll by The Science Advisory Board lament that access to technology is creating an unbridgeable gap between developed and developing countries. The remaining respondents were divided between 26% who thought technology access was not widening the divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” and 16% who were not sure enough about the status of global technology access to comment on it.
ARLINGTON, VA (PRWEB) February 26, 2004 -
–Fifty-eight percent of the 2,100+ respondents to a poll by The Science Advisory Board lament that access to technology is creating an unbridgeable gap between developed and developing countries. The remaining respondents were divided between 26% who thought technology access was not widening the divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” and 16% who were not sure enough about the status of global technology access to comment on it.
It is obvious from this survey that researchers and allied health professionals are concerned about the imbalance of resources and information between developed and developing countries. To help remedy this situation, developing countries should focus on identifying the most pressing needs, building up key infrastructure, supporting local training, and providing outreach. “I believe that developing countries should concentrate on acquiring biomedical technologies that would be most valuable to them, are easily transferred and can be adapted to the realities local adoption requires,” comments Dr. Tamara Zemlo, Director of Scientific & Medical Communications for The Science Advisory Board.
Developed countries can assist most directly in the transfer of biomedical technologies to their developing neighbors by directly investing in the countries themselves, fostering joint ventures and alliances, permitting licensing, providing technical service and supporting trade. Indirectly, these same countries can make valuable contributions by encouraging their talent to temporarily relocate in developing countries, offering special training opportunities, and securing access to technical information, e. g., publications, patents, etc. More controversial measures include “turning a blind eye” to reverse engineering and copying and compulsory licensing. Collectively, developed countries should also pay careful attention to international trade and other policies that might be inadvertently stymieing technology transfer from their countries to developing countries.
For more information about The Science Advisory Board or this poll, please contact Dr. Tamara Zemlo at 703.778.3080 x25 or at t. zemlo@scienceboard. net.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD
The Science Advisory Board is an online panel of more than 18,100 scientists, physicians and other life science and medical professionals from 62 countries. By convening electronically, Science Advisory Board members participate in online studies to voice their opinions on issues that directly affect the evolution and development of the tools and techniques of their professions. Scientists can contribute their own views on the tools and techniques of their field by participating at http://www. scienceboard. net (http://www. scienceboard. net). The Science Advisory Board was organized in 1997 by BioInformatics, LLC (http://www. gene2drug. com (http://www. gene2drug. com)), a research and consulting firm located in Arlington, VA.
CONTACT:
Dr. Tamara Zemlo
Director, Scientific & Medical Communications
The Science Advisory Board
2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 250
Arlington, VA 22201
703.778.3080 x25 phone
T. zemlo@scienceboard. net
Http://www. scienceboard. net (http://www. scienceboard. net)
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