Appropriation of Biotechnology in Vietnam

I. Context:
- Role of Biotech for development has got widespread recognition among developing countries, including Vietnam
- In Vietnam, there are many official documents and policies of the government on development of Biotech. Biotech development and application in Vietnam is mainly intended for:
+ Agriculture
+ Healthcare
+ Environment
- In the context of a latecomer economy, there is a necessity for comparison and mutual learning between Vietnamese communities working on biotech and other partners, national and international.
- There are several similar activities related to biotech innovation study that has been conducted. Some of them are relevant to Vietnam context. First of all, one should mention IDRC supported UNU-MERIT (formerly UNU-Intech) study on biomedical innovation activity. This study is conducted in several countries in Africa and Asia like Tanzania, Vietnam, Malaysia. However, this study is very much on general issues and sector mapping rather than looking at specific features of university research and commercialization. (more…)

The Role of Academic Institutions in Tanzania and Mozambique

1.0 Background and Rationale
Application of biotechnology provide new and promising opportunities for achieving greater food security, reducing poverty and improving the quality and standard of living of marginalized people in the developing world. The number and scope of biotechnology applications are expanding not only in the developed countries but also in poor countries such as African countries.

Although Tanzania and Mozambique see biotechnology as a promising tool, which could rapidly enhance their socio-economic development, the level of biotechnology research, development and utilization in both countries is still in its infancy. The progress in the adoption and utilization of this technology in both Tanzania and Mozambique has remained rather slow. However the two countries are picking up quickly, with the agricultural sector being the most active. Currently, there are several public, private and non governmental institutions that are involved in biotechnology research at different levels in both Tanzania and Mozambique. (more…)

Tanzania Position Paper presented at UNIVERSIDAD06
Tanzania Power Point presented at UNIVERSIDAD06

With the support of Sida/SAREC, College of Engineering and Technology the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania organized a one-week training course (September 12-16, 2005) involving 50 persons (from Government, industry and academia), on the Development of Innovation Systems and Innovative Clusters. Resource persons included Ifor Ffowcs-Williams from Cluster Navigators in New Zealand; Lars Christensen from the Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy (Karlstad, Sweden); Lena Trojer of Blekinge Institute of Technology; and VINNOVA-Sweden. 8 cluster initiatives were identified for development.