In view of the resolution passed by the Heads of Governments of Non-Aligned Countries during the 1989 Meeting at Belgrade, supporting the establishment of a Network of International Science and Technology Centers was made one of the main objectives of the Commission.
The Expert Committee of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), based in Italy, initially selected 10 centers for the COMSATS Network, to provide the lead-role in their respective scientific and technological fields of specialization. Subsequently six more centers have been added to the Network. COMSATS promotes subject-specific networking of these Centers with their counterparts worldwide and facilitates joint activities, such as training, research projects, expert-exchange & technology-transfer. At the same time, COMSATS strives to mobilize the financial and technical support from the international agencies, for upgrading and strengthening these centers to help them achieve a greater role in the development of their respective region.
The Objectives of the Network
The Network has the following objectives:
- To assist the countries of the South to build and sustain a critical mass of world-class scientists and technologists in areas of frontier science and technology and environmental sciences which are of critical importance to sustainable socio-economic development.
- To attract talent, reduce brain-drain, and induce competent Third World scientists and technologists working abroad to return to their countries.
- To facilitate the transfer of technology and the supply to industry of highly qualified technical personnel.
- To assist in finding scientific solutions to complex developmental and environmental problems in the South.
- To provide avenues for international cooperation in areas of science and technology of global concern, including those for environmentally sustainable development.
- To provide a suitable framework for science and technology assessment and management in the South.
- To develop strong links between Members of the Network and production sectors in the South.
- To promote joint technological ventures amongst the Members of the Network.
- To assist in carrying out other programmes as assigned by COMSATS.
The Functions of the Network
The Members of the Network carry out the following functions:
- To conduct high-level training activities, nationally, regionally and internationally, in the scientific fields of each Node of the Network in order to achieve a critical mass of highly-qualified personnel in these fields in the South;
- To conduct basic and applied research in order to develop and test solutions to socio-economic development and environmental challenges facing the South.
- To conduct interdisciplinary research and modelling in order to devise scientific solutions to problems which have global implications for environmentally sustainable development;
- To provide scientific and technical services to the Production and Services sectors in the South.
The Organs of the Network
The Network consists of the following Organs:
- A Coordinating Council
- A Technical Advisory Committee, and
- A Consultative Committee
The Coordinating Council, Consultative Committee, and Technical Advisory Committee are respectively responsible for making rules and regulations governing the Network’s procedures and taking decisions on matters affecting its membership; coordinating matters relating to formulation of general policy of the Network as well as sensitizing the Network towards specific requirements of the member countries; and, providing support for technical feasibility and evaluation & monitoring of the projects and programmes of COMSATS.
So far, 16 Centers of Excellence (highly reputed centers of science and technologies in the South) have been selected as nodes and are being used to provide the leading role in their respective areas of specialization. These Centres also cooperate with their counterparts in the North with the major focus on international cooperation, in the larger interest of humankind.
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