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Odorising refrigerants to fight greenhouse gases : TNO
Adding an odorant to the refrigerants used in refrigeration and freezing equipment can help reduce the emission of HFCs by at least 135,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The odour would make leaks more readily detectable, so they could be quickly located and fixed. Normally synthetic refrigerants are colourless and odourless, and a system’s pressure doesn’t drop when they leak. In the event of a leak or a disaster a unit could lose all its volume without anyone noticing. Adding an odorant could assist in the early detection of leaks in large complexes.
VTT develops Vietnam’s energy industry
VTT is leading a development cooperation project that aims at development of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in Vietnam. The target is also on technology transfer and enhancing the Vietnamese energy auditing, as well as helping to build the energy strategy of Vietnam. The project is part of the larger goal of transferring Finnish technological know-how and improving energy efficiency in developing countries and is funded by the Foreign Ministry of Finland.
Battelle Collaborating with Korean Partners to Advance Energy Efficiency and Health and Life Sciences Initiatives in Korea
Developing a strong pharmaceutical industry is a key issue in Korea. So much so that Battelle-Korea, Battelle, Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province and YuYu Inc., intend to collaborate and address the issues. A Korean corporation named International Scientific Standard (ISS) Inc., will be formed to develop a bioequivalency business in Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province, that will meet international Good Laboratory Practices (GL) standards. In addition, the collaborators will work on developing energy efficiency technologies and buildings. They will work together to develop a roadmap toward greater energy efficiency in Gangwon Province. This roadmap will identify manufacturing, service, and research and development opportunities.
Bio-crude turns cheap waste into valuable fuel
CSIRO Australia and Monash University have developed a chemical process that turns green waste into stable bio-crude oil. The bio-crude oil can be used to produce high value chemicals and biofuels, including both petrol and diesel replacement fuels. The process uses low value waste such as forest thinnings, crop residues, waste paper and garden waste and the technology makes it economical to produce bio-crude in local areas for transport to a central biorefinery, rather than transporting bulky green waste to the refinery.
Antarctic research may hold more answers to climate change
A team of South African scientists from the CSIR and the University of Cape Town will join some 60 international scientists to investigate some of the biogeochemical processes that regulate ocean-atmosphere exchanges of carbon dioxide in the Southern Ocean to gain insight into its role in climate change. This research cruise forms part of a five-year French initiative conducted with a number of countries under the framework of the International Polar Year.
Electricity from a thin film
Teams of researchers all over the world are working on the development of organic solar cells. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems is presenting avenues towards industrial mass production at the world’s largest trade fair for nanotechnology which will take place in Tokyo in February. Organic solar cells have good prospects for the future as they can be laid onto thin films, which makes them cheap to produce. Established printing technologies could be employed for their production in the future. Organic solar cells are not intended to compete with classic silicon cells but could be combined sensors and electronic circuits on a small strip of plastic to form self-sufficient power Microsystems to provide a power supply for small devices.
New Institute for Innovation Policy
The Chairman of TNO in the Netherlands, the President of VTT in Finland and the Managing Director of Joanneum Research in Austria have signed a letter of intent to establish the Joint Institute for Innovation Policy (JIIP). more ...
Battelle and Petronas sign agreement to set up renewable energy laboratory in Malaysia
Battelle and PETRONAS signed an agreement yesterday to build and operate a landmark Renewable Energy Laboratory in Malaysia. Also partnering in the effort at Battelle-Japan and the Mitsubishi Corporation. more ...
The Meaning of the 21st Century
A vital blueprint for ensuring our future
by James Martin
James Martin is the founder of the James Martin 21st Century School (http://www.21school.ox.ac.uk/) at the University of Oxford, which links together many institutes and top academics concerned with the future. Its mission is to find solutions to the biggest problems facing humanity in the 21st century and identify our biggest opportunities. James Martin explains with clarity and precision the nature of the challenges we face, from global warming to famine, religious extremism and technological advance, and then defines the thinking that will provide us with solutions for the future.
Building the Bridge between Traditional and Modern Medicine
 A small team of GRA scientists and representatives from the National Institute for Medical Research and the Tanga Aids Working Group from Tanzania met recently to develop a comprehensive project dossier on the work being done in Tanzania on treating the opportunistic infections suffered by people living with HIV/AIDS. Read more...
The Tanga Project – a new milestone reached
 A trilateral Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the 27 August between the GRA, the National Institute for Medical Research (Tanzania) and the Tanga Aids Working Group (TAWG). This MoU was signed by the CSIR on behalf of the four GRA member organisations that are involved in the project and embodies agreement between scientists, a national research institute and traditional healers to collaborate. Read more...
New structured Netherlands can counter climate change
A map made by TNO staff members was recently presented to the Department of Public Works in the Netherlands. The map was made in the context of the 'Water and Environment 2010-2100' project and shows how the Netherlands can be structured to combat climate change. The map was drafted by a number of experts - including TNO. The project will be translated into reading material for primary school, children (10-year olds).
Advanced Materials in Malaysia
The Advanced Materials Research Centre (AMREC) was established by SIRIM-Berhad in Malaysia to be part of a strategy to develop local capabilities and to exploit locally available natural resources for materials research. The establishment of AMREC brings considerable over-arching knowledge of advanced materials early to the design process of industries and universities in order to improve innovation and give a competitive advantage to their products.
Intelligent Surface Coatings
The Danish Technology Institute is leading the research and development project Sensi-Coating, which is to develop new, hard-wearing, anti-corrosion, easy-to-clean and ‘intelligent’ surface coatings for amongst other things, food processing equipment. Both the food industry and the health sector will benefit hugely from the surfaces which are self-lubricating and durable so as to avoid oil and metal contamination.
Servers and Services
 The Meraka Institute at the CSIR in South Africa hosted a workshop where servers and services were discussed. Attending the workshop were delegates from Linknet in Zambia and TNO in the Netherlands. This workshop forms part of the cooperation between Linknet, Meraka and TNO on the creation of low-cost wireless connectivity in Africa. Following the workshop the team from Linknet were able to implement telephone services in Macha, a rural village in Zambia and were able to make both local and international calls.
Building the Bridge between Traditional and Modern Medicine
A small team of GRA scientists and representatives from the National Institute for Medical Research and the Tanga Aids Working Group from Tanzania met recently to develop a comprehensive project dossier on the work being done in Tanzania on treating the opportunistic infections suffered by people living with HIV/AIDS. Read more...
The Tanga Project – a new milestone reached
A trilateral Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the 27 August between the GRA, the National Institute for Medical Research (Tanzania) and the Tanga Aids Working Group (TAWG). This MoU was signed by the CSIR on behalf of the four GRA member organisations that are involved in the project and embodies agreement between scientists, a national research institute and traditional healers to collaborate. Read more...
The United Arab Emirates launches science strategy
The UAE has announced a three-year strategic plan for high education and scientific research, to begin in 2008. The strategy proposes setting up an ‘educational hub’ to encourage scientific collaboration. The Dubai International Academic City will comprise universities and research and development centres from developing countries, such as India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as industrialised countries, such as Australia, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The strategy also calls for promoting science awareness to encourage the development of the UAE into a knowledge-based society.
The United Arab Emirates launches science strategy
The UAE has announced a three-year strategic plan for high education and scientific research, to begin in 2008. The strategy proposes setting up an ‘educational hub’ to encourage scientific collaboration. The Dubai International Academic City will comprise universities and research and development centres from developing countries, such as India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as industrialised countries, such as Australia, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The strategy also calls for promoting science awareness to encourage the development of the UAE into a knowledge-based society.
Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences  Dr Gerard van Oortmerssen who is President Elect of the Council will deliver a paper on Sustainable Progress at the 17th Convocation of the Council to be held in Tokyo in October. The theme of the convocation is “Environment and Sustainable Growth.
Kofi Annan to chair the Board of the Green Revolution in Africa The Alliance for the Green revolution in Africa, which was established last year with an initial US$150 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, has announced the appointment of former UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan as its first chairman.more…
Ocean ‘supergyre’ link to climate regulator
Australian scientists have identified the missing deep ocean pathway – or ‘supergyre’ – linking the three Southern Hemisphere ocean basins in research that will help them explain more accurately how the ocean governs global climate. Through recognising the scales and patterns of these subsurface water masses means they can be incorporated into the powerful models used by scientists to project how climate may change.
CSIR water research to be applied in the Baltic Sea region
The Baltic Sea region has adopted a new approach to sustainable development, based on ideas generated by the CSIR in South Africa. The innovative textbook titled ‘Governance as a Trialogue: Government-Society-Science in transition’ published recently by the CSIR has now foiund application in the Baltic Sea region. The CSIR’s trialogue approach is a useful vehicle for the resolution of complex legacy issues arising from decades of accumulated pollution.
BNCT treatments in VTT’s research reactor New results published in the Int. Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics in August 20076 on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) treatments indicate that BNCT is an effective treatment for head and neck cancer. The treatments are carried out in cooperation between Boneca Oy, VTT and the Helsinki University Central Hospital’s Department of Oncology in a treatment station in VTT’s research reactor in Espoo.
Low-Cost Wireless Connectivity in Africa
 The recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between LinkNet Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited of Zambia and the Meraka Institute is another significant step towards the creation of low-cost, wireless connectivity in Africa. LinkNet has as its objective to establish internet communication facilities in rural communities in Zambia to further holistic empowerment and capacity building of institutions and rural people. The Meraka Institute is a South African national research centre managed by the CSIR. The two organisations have been brought together under the auspices of the GRA. Read more...
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Health on the Agenda
The health leadership group of the GRA will meet in Seoul, South Korea later this month to discuss the unmet research needs in the field of rural health. The team will draw on the extensive knowledge within the Alliance and also consult with experts in the field, and will prepare a discussion paper outlining themes where the Alliance has the potential to provide solutions to health care problems in developing countries. By pooling the knowledge across the Alliance it is hoped to develop innovative and practical solutions in this domain.
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Dr Ramesh Mashelkar takes up the reins as GRA President
 The Global Research Alliance is proud to announce that Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, formerly the Director General of the CSIR in India, has taken up office as the first president of the Alliance.
In his role as President Dr Mashelkar will, in association with the existing GRA structures, be responsible for the formulation of strategy and implementation, revenue generation, member participation and building the value proposition of the Alliance. Dr Mashelkar’s responsibilities will also include international positioning and relationship building. Read more...
International Technology and Quality Conference and Exhibition
23-25 August 2007 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia
 Organised by SIRIM Berhad, the two-day conference will be themed “Sustainable Growth through Technology and Quality. Speakers of international repute from diverse backgrounds will share their insights on how Quality and Technology can be made to work for you. The keynote address will be presented by the Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, YB Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis. more…
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Global Development Network (GDN)
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The two staff members of the GRA Nerve Centre recently read papers at the Knowledge Management as an Enabler of Change and Innovation Conference which was held in Cairo from 11th -13th June. Dr Biesenbach, at the request of Mr Nicolas Gorjestani presented a paper on the knowledge management in the Tanga project and Ms Malan on knowledge management in large research organisations. Participation in this even was fully sponsored by GDN. www.gdnet.org |
Dr Mashelkar - 50th President of Institution of Chemical Engineers
| Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, President of the GRA, was sworn in as the 50th
President of Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), UK, which has
presently over 100 institutional memberships as well as 27,000 members.
He is the first non-English President to have been elected. In his inaugural address he urged members to "take bold and confident steps into the twenty first century, a century of knowledge, a century
of mind and a century of hope." – just send a mail with your full mailing address to cmalan@theinnovationhub.com for more information. |
6th Annual Meeting of GRA Principals
The Principals of the GRA met in Helsinki from 21-23 May to review progress made in the past year and to determine the path forward for the coming year. The meeting was chaired by the GRA President, Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, and hosted by Dr Erkki Leppävuori the President and CEO of VTT the Technical Research Centre of Finland.
In addition to the business of the meeting, the Principals met with the President of the Republic of Finland, HE Ms Tarja Halonen where global issues were discussed. On the day following the meeting, a workshop session was held with leading scientists from VTT, who outlined some of the extensive capabilities of that organisation. |
World Bank Forum on Building STI Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction
‘……..the subject matter that you are dealing with here is incredibly important’ was the message to delegates to the Forum from Dr Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank. Dr Wolfowitz went on to urge the delegates to innovate and produce good ideas in the race to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Read more... |
Team from TNO visits South Africa
(from l to r) Dr Reinie Biesenbach - GRA Nerve Centre, Mr Gertjan van Stam - Linknet Zambia, Dr Gerard van Oortmerssen - Director TNO ICT, Ms Khungeka Njobe - Group Executive: R&D Outcomes and Strategic Human Capital Development, CSIR and Mr Kagiso Keatimilwe - Manager: Strategic Alliances, CSIR
| Dr Gerard van Oortmerssen, the GRA Principal from TNO in the Netherlands together with colleagues from Zambia visited South Africa recently. Meetings were held with the CSIR, The Innovation Hub, the Department of Science and Technology, the University of Pretoria and the GRA Nerve Centre. Read more... |
South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD)
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- will be holding a conference in Durban South Africa from 26-30 June 2007. The conference – The Poverty Challenge for 2007 – seeks to act as melting pot of thoughts, ideas, opinions and strategies across a broad ideological and geographical spectrum and has assembled key thinkers in this domain include Jeffrey Sachs. Read more about the conference at http://povertyconference.co.za/portal/
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GRA President on the Move
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Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, President of the GRA has just spent a month in Australia as a the inaugural Sir Louis Matheson Distinguised Visiting Professorship at Monash University. Next in his busy schedule is a visit to South Africa at the invitation of the Department of Science and Technology where he will be guest speaker at a seminar and also deliver a public lecture on the Role and Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Developing Countries.
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The World as you’ve never seen it
 At a glance you can see who’s got the most of what
Worldmapper is a collection of world maps created by the University of Sheffield, UK. Each map deals with a subject, such as wealth, crime, HIV, water, energy etc. The shape of the country shrinks or swells according to its rate of wealth, crime etc. Figures provided by the United Nations were used to create the maps which cover many different demographics. Your can see more maps at http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html
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GRA S&T-based Water Scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa published.
The Global Research Alliance in conjunction with its sponsors has developed science and technology-based water scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa. These Scenarios were developed at a workshop attended by international water specialists including many from African countries. The Scenarios help one to imagine what the future could be like and are perfect tools for communication, as they stimulate debate about possible futures and the steps needed to create them.
Copies of the scenario booklet are available from the GRA Nerve Centre – just send a mail with your full mailing address to cmalan@theinnovationhub.com
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GRA Leaders to meet in Helsinki
 The Principals of the nine member organisations will meet in Helsinki from 21-23 May for the 6th Annual Meeting of the Global Research Alliance. The meeting under the Chairmanship of the GRA President, Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, will debate and decide the focus of the Alliance for the coming year and review the progress made to date.
The meeting will be hosted by VTT - The Technical Research Centre of Finland and will be held at their offices
in Espoo.
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The World as you’ve never seen it
At a glance you can see who’s got the most of what
Worldmapper is a collection of world maps created by the University of Sheffield, UK. Each map deals with a subject, such as wealth, crime, HIV, water, energy etc. The shape of the country shrinks or swells according to its rate of wealth, crime etc. Figures provided by the United Nations were used to create the maps which cover many different demographics. Your can see more maps at http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html
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Join the Consultation towards a joint EU-Africa Strategy!
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The African Union and the European Union met from 19-23 February to start discussions on the new joint EU-Africa Strategy. The discussions will continue until the May Ministerial meeting. Your contributions to this process are important, and they will be taken into consideration in formulating the agenda for the meeting in May. Join the public consultation on this at http://europafrica.org |
Shanghai surprise: China’s pharma breakthrough
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For years, Western pharmaceutical giants and China have engaged in a mutually profitable trade-off. The drug companies provide foreign investment and expertise in return for China offering low operating costs and a large local market. More ... |
Nanotech membrane cuts costs of water treatment
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Water treatment such as desalination and wastewater reuse could become much cheaper for developing countries, thanks to a purification membrane developed using nanotechnology. More ... |
Information Society Technologies in Africa 2007
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Location: Maputo, Mozambique
Date: 9 - 11 May 2007
Organised by: Information Society Technologies in Africa
Deadline for abstracts: 22 December 2006
Early bird registration: 12 March 2007
This is the second annual conference bringing together representatives from leading commercial, government and research organisations across Africa and Europe, to bridge the digital divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice. more |
GRA S&T-based Water Scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa published.
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The Global Research Alliance in conjunction with its sponsors has developed science and technology-based water scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa. These Scenarios were developed at a workshop attended by international water specialists including many from African countries. The Scenarios help one to imagine what the future could be like and are perfect tools for communication, as they stimulate debate about possible futures and the steps needed to create them.
Copies of the scenario booklet are available from the GRA Nerve Centre – just send a mail with your full mailing address to cmalan@theinnovationhub.com |
Finnsight 2015
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The summary report on the FinnSight 2015 initiative entitled The Outlook for Science, Technology and Society is now available in pdf format – click here which is a comprehensive foresight exercise on Finnish science and technology which makes very interesting reading. |
World Bank Forum on Building STI Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction
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The World Bank, in association with a number of international agencies, including the GRA, is organising a Global Forum on Building Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction, to take place in Washington DC from 13-15 February 2007. This event promises to be groundbreaking in many respects and the indications are that leaders from all corners of the world will be in attendance.
Read more about this event at the following URL: http://www.worldbank.org/STIGlobalForum |
Going Global 2006 – The challenges for Knowledge-Based Economies
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The Going Global 2006 conference took place under the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was organised by VTT under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Finland, the European Commission and the "Six Countries Programme".
The focus of this event was on the challenges that globalisation poses to knowledge–based economies. The conference dealt with globalisation with regard to S&T, innovation systems, economies, societies and development and encompassed theoretical, empirical and pragmatic aspects whilst investigating the role of both economic agents and policy makers.
Several GRA members were involved in this conference include Dr R A Mashelkar of CSIR India, Prof Erkki Leppävuori and Torsti Loikkanen of VTT Finland and Dr Jakob Elder of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
Many papers are downloadable from the site which can be viewed by clicking here |
FinNode – the new Finnish innovation centre in Silicon Valley
FinNode, the new Finnish innovation centre, will open in Silicon Valley, USA in January 2007. The innovation centre will serve Finnish and American companies and researchers and the objective is to accelerate the arrival of Finnish companies into the USA market, to augment the mobility of researchers and research cooperation between Finland and the USA, and to add to the attraction of Finland as a target for investment and as a place to establish a business. The innovation centre has been established by Finpro, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development, the Academy of Finland, Tekes – Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. More ...
African Union Summit
The meeting of the African Union Summit which is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on 29-30 January will, for the first time, focus on science, technology and innovation. The GRA Nerve Centre is in contact with the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology to identify opportunities that might exist for the GRA to participate in the summit or the associated exhibition.
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it would devote $100 million to African agriculture over the next five years, in combination with a decision by the Rockefeller Foundation to chip in an additional $50 million. The aim is to spark a Green Revolution on the continent which will draw upon many sources of innovation, one being biotechnology which was not available to the original green revolutionaries a generation ago.
World Bank Forum
The World Bank is planning a Global Forum on Building Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction, which will take place in Washington in the middle of February 2007. The GRA are in regular contact with the Bank regarding involvement in this Forum and GRA Principals will be participating in the event.
Visit by Prof Anil Gupta to South Africa
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From L-R:
Dr Reinie Biesenbach, Executive
Director : GRA Nerve Centre, Prof Anil
Gupta of IIM in India and Mr Nicolas
Gorjestani of the World Bank at the
Department of Science and Technology
in Pretoria |
The GRA Nerve Centre invited Prof Anil K Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and Executive Vice Chair of the Indian Innovation Foundation, to come to South Africa for a series of lectures and engagement with local decision-makers and communities. This was an inspiring visit with much sharing of learning and several important follow-up actions, made possible through the generous support of the World Bank and the South African Department of Science and Technology.
Mr Nicolas Gorjestani, Senior Advisor and Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer of the World Bank, Africa Region, kindly arrange his schedule to be in South Africa at the same time and participated in many of the meetings. Read more ...
CSIRO – New Research Cluster focussing on elusive Hydrogen Economy
A new $10.6 million research cluster aimed at leading Australia nearer to a sustainable hydrogen economy has been launched by CSIRO’s Energy Centre. more
VTT – New Technologies bring services within touching distance
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is managing a new international co-operative project, SmartTouch, targeted at finding new, versatile applications for mobile devices. more
CSIR South Africa – Science to curb cholera epidemic in Mozambique
CSIR researchers are investigating the potential role that various sea conditions play in cholera outbreaks. The CSIR project is focused solely on scientific research into the environmental conditions of the disease and not on the social conditions promoting outbreaks. more
TNO – COOL Run
TNO has developed an application of outdoor athletes that sends signals in real-time from various sensors on the athlete’s body via a telephone to a web-service that uses Google Maps. more
GRA Members at Insite
 A team from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft lead by Dr Alfred Gossner, Senior Vice President Finance showcased some leading edge technologies at the recent South African International Science Innovation and Technology Expo. more...
The CSIR South Africa was also well represented at this event more... which is organised by the South African Department of Science and Technology.
Visit by Prof Anil Gupta to South Africa
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From L-R:
Dr Reinie Biesenbach, Executive
Director : GRA Nerve Centre, Prof Anil
Gupta of IIM in India and Mr Nicolas
Gorjestani of the World Bank at the
Department of Science and Technology
in Pretoria |
The GRA Nerve Centre invited Prof Anil K Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and Executive Vice Chair of the Indian Innovation Foundation, to come to South Africa for a series of lectures and engagement with local decision-makers and communities. This was an inspiring visit with much sharing of learning and several important follow-up actions, made possible through the generous support of the World Bank and the South African Department of Science and Technology.
Mr Nicolas Gorjestani, Senior Advisor and Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer of the World Bank, Africa Region, kindly arrange his schedule to be in South Africa at the same time and participated in many of the meetings. …..more
GRA Solar Thermal Report published
The World Bank has published the GRA Study on Solar Thermal Power
Generation. This study was carried out by three GRA members, the
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft in Germany, CSIRO in Australia and the CSIR in
South Africa. To download the full report click here.
Celebrating 80 years of Science
CSIRO, Australia ’s national science agency celebrates its 80 th Anniversary in 2006. For generations Australia ’s growth and development has hinged upon science and innovation with CSIRO at the cutting edge. Read more ….
100 Years of Innovation
The Danish Technological Institute was founded by Guner Gregersen as an independent institution in 1906 and is one of the oldest of its type in the world. The far-sighted Mr Gregersen was the President of the Institute for 44 years until his death in 1950. The Institute now has almost 850 employees, making it one of the world’s largest private institutes to supply approved technological services such as consultancy, tests, certification and training for companies and public sector organisations. Read more ...
CSIR India featured in TIME magazine
An article on Natural Healing in the July 29 th edition of TIME magazine focussed on whether India will succeed in bringing its ancient Ayurvedic plant medicines into the modern world and featured the work of V K Gupta, director of CSIR India’s National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources. Dr Gupta’s group are developing a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library which is aimed at safeguarding traditional healing systems. read more
DTI develop mobile laboratory
The Concrete Centre at the Danish Technological Institute has developed a new concept; a mobile laboratory for measuring the hardening properties of concrete on-site. In major construction projects, significant expenses can be avoided by carrying out an optimisation of the casting and curing process of the concrete. This monitoring is a new service that can be offered by the DTI to its clients. read more
TNO’s unique knowledge helps research into the ozone layer
For the past 15 years or more, TNO has been closely involved in European space flight projects that have been contributing to our knowledge of the earth’s climate. After holes in the ozone layer were recognised as being a serious problem in the 1980s, TNO started designing optical instruments which allow accurate measurements to be made. read more
Concrete actions needed to increase EU’s competitiveness
 The question of the EU’s competitiveness has been raised as a top priority issue during Finland’s EU presidency. Competitiveness cannot be created in a short period of time. Rather, systematic, continuous investment in R&D, education and technology is needed and moreover ongoing interaction between researchers and companies is essential. Read more..
·Science and Technology on Show at Insite
Some of the world’s top minds in science and technology will gather in South Africa in September for the second International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (Insite), a showcase of cutting edge technologies aimed at improving the growing climate of innovation. Read more...
·The InterAcademy Council recently issued two joint statements this week.
Twelve national science academies joined together in calling on the world leaders, particularly the G8 counties meeting in Russia in July, to tackle the problems of avian influenza and other infectious diseases through cooperative, global strategies. The academies also urged leaders to implement policies for improving the efficient use of energy and achieving sustainable and environmentally acceptable energy supplies for all nations. Click on the links below to access these statements :
Read more ...
Carbon Nanotube researchers win NanoVic Prize
– a team from scientists from CSIRO and the NanoTech Institute of the University of Texas has won the 2006 NanoVic Prize for Innovation in Nanotechnology for its work on the development of carbon nanotube yarns and transparent sheets. Read more ...
Simplicity technology tailors digital terminals according to its user wishes
– VTT has developed together with other Simplicity project partners a small device that tailors digital terminals and services according to users' wishes. Read more ...
Battelle launches advanced materials program at National Plastics Expo 2006
- this programme which is designed to provide immediate assistance to advanced materials companies and his known as the Battelle Materials Applications Technology Solutions (B-MATS) is a subscription based service. Read more ...
Academy of Finland and Tekes foresight project identifies key priorities for the future
Finnsight 2015 experts have completed their work to identify what are considered the main focus areas in science, technology, business and industry, and society. The areas that emerged most prominently were the management of global risks, energy and environment issues, the renewal of the health care system as well as ICT and biosciences applications. All of these areas require science and technology collaboration that is based in human needs.
The English summary of the final report will be available at www.finnsight2015.fi by the end of August.
Countdown to 2015
The Global Monitoring Report 2005 : From Consensus to Momentum that was released recently warns that Sub-Saharan Africa is in danger of not meeting any of the Millennium Development Goals and also that unless the international community acts now, there is a grave risk the world won't meet international targets. The article on the report can be seen on the World Bank website.
· A new report has been released by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) at the United Nations in New York in conjunction with the 13th Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development. This report shows that investments in water can be an engine for accelerated economic growth, sustainable development, improved health and reduced poverty. Read more
EU mulls key pact with South Africa
The European Commission is to propose making South Africa a ‘strategic partner’ by forging a pact similar to ones already struck with the United States and China. The Commission has set out its ideas for a partnership – its sixth such pact – in a document to be considered by the EU’s 25 member state governments and EU lawmakers. Read more...
Conformity Assessment in Jordan
During 2006 a team of experts from the Danish Technological Institute and their partner FORCE Technology will be working in Jordan on a project which will strengthen the conformity assessment infrastructure in Jordan in general and in the Royal Scientific Society in particular. Transfer of know how will take place in such fields as certification, laboratory testing and business development
Tunable Single Electron Transport in Nanoparticle Assembly
Transistors have made tremendous impact on our day-to-day life. They are used as major components in electronic devices, high performance automobiles, mobile phones etc. Researchers at CSIR India are now focusing on further miniaturisation of transistors towards the molecular level, which will be based on single electron transfer features.
TNO participates in Biomedical Materials Consortium
TNO recently announced its participation in a Dutch consortium on biomedical materials. The BioMedical Materials Consortium aims to provide a leadership position to the Netherlands in biomedical materials and will facilitate novel product development for various medical applications
High tech for ancient Egyptians
For the first time ever, researchers have used laser light to remove the accumulated dirt of millennia – helping to meet the challenge of conserving the priceless heritage of the past.
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Institute for Material and Beam Technology
Faster consultation for patients globally without ties to a place and time
VTT has developed together with the Singapore based A*STAR research centre, a technology that enables better availability for medical services regardless of time, place or information systems. These new teleinformatic solutions enable faster and more reliable doctor consultation globally.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
CO2ReMoVe – going underground
TNO Built Environment and Geoscience is coordinating CO2ReMoVe – a large research project into the possibility of certifying and monitoring subterranean CO2 storage which is one of the way to reduce the mission of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO)
Dr Dirk-Meints Polter
Dr Polter is a Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in charge of Human Resources and Legal Affairs. Dr Polter joined the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 1989 and his previous experience includes serving as the Personal Advisor to the Secretary of State at the BMFT; Scientific advisor to the German ambassador in Jakarta and Commercial director of the German synchrotron facility.
Dr Polter serves on the Executive Committee of WAITRO and the Board of Fraunhofer USA.
Dr Polter received the First Class of Order of Merit Award of the Republic of Germany in February this year and has also received an Order of Merit Award from Indonesia.
5th Annual Meeting of GRA Principals
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| Participants in the 5th Annual Meeting of GRA Principals |
The Principals of the GRA met recently in Columbus, Ohio to agree on the focus for the Alliance in the coming year.
All nine member organisations were represented at the meeting which was hosted by Battelle. Following some intensive brainstorming the specific focus for the year ahead has been clearly defined and ownership has been assigned for monitoring progress and report back to the next meeting of Principals.
The meeting participants also had the opportunity of engaging with important stakeholders such as the World Bank and Nobel Laureate Prof Tom Schelling, to gain a clear understanding of possible needs and opportunities.
Dr Narendra Bhatt receives Basham Award
Dr Bhatt who is a member of the Indigenous Knowledge Core Team received this prestigious award for his long term services to the International Association for the study of Traditional Asian Medicine and to the wider field of Asian Medicine in and beyond India. This award was conferred at the 6th International Conference on Traditional Medicine held in Austin, Texas in April 2006 where Dr Bhatt delivered the Award Lecture.
· Dato' Dr Mohd Ariffin Hj. Aron the President and Chief Executive of SIRIM Berhad and a Principal of the GRA was interviewed recently for the cover story of the Technology Business Review. The Technology Business Review is a monthly publication and Malaysia 's first business magazine on technology driven industries. In the interview Dr Ariffin outlined SIRIM's role in assisting Malaysian companies to move up the value chain by providing them technology business insights and also in creating a value system on the Malysian journey towards becoming a developed nation.
· GRA Principal honoured
The US National Academy of Sciences, a private organisation dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare, has elected Dr Mashelkar, Director-General of CSIR India and a Principal of the GRA as a foreign associate of the organisation. This is a considerable honour as currently there are only 360 foreign associates elected by the Academy. Click here to read the write up on Dr Mashelkar.
GRA S&T Based Water Scenarios for Africa
Workshop held in Windhoek 27-29 March 2006
The United Nations World Water Development Report No 2 of March 2006 states that environmental degradation, poor management and a burgeoning population have produced some of the worst water shortages in the world in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbating poverty and disease. The associated challenge is illustrated by the fact that the population of sub-Saharan Africa, despite the impact of HIV/AIDS, is projected to grow to 1.1 billion in 2050 from 532 million in 1995.
The GRA has embarked on a journey to generate baseline stories for creating plausible science and technology-based water scenarios which can illuminate worthy actions. A workshop held in Namibia in March 2006 was attended by 35 water experts from 15 countries. Participants identified key issues, certainties and uncertainties. Drivers were also identified and draft storylines which will be developed into scenarios were outlined.
It is the intention to publish a the scenarios in a booklet by July 2006. This booklet will be widely distributed and presented to decision-makers and funding agencies. In addition, the GRA will pursue a few follow-up initiatives on issues arising from the workshop
Global Research Alliance Events
Water Experts to develop Science and Technology-based Water Scenarios
 Under the auspices of the Global Research Alliance, an international team of water scientists from 15 countries, including representatives from several African countries, will meet in Windhoek, Namibia later this month to develop water scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa. This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Shaun McCarthy, an experienced scenario planner.
It is widely accepted that environmental degradation, poor management, and a growing population have produced some of the worst water shortages in the world in sub-Sahara Africa. With this in mind, the emphasis of the workshop will be on the role of existing and emerging science and technology in the development of solutions to the water challenges of the region.
The workshop has been organised by the GRA and will be sponsored by a variety of international and national agencies from Malaysia, Germany, South Africa, Finland and the United Kingdom. The outcomes of the workshop will be published in a scenario booklet which will be widely distributed.
Two exciting events were held by the Alliance for February, these are:
2nd Indigenous Knowledge Workshop
The 2nd Indigenous Knowledge Workshop took place in Manesar, India from 1 – 3 February 2006. The meeting was hosted by CSIR India under the auspices of the World Bank and the Global Research Alliance, supported by the Swiss Development Corporation. Fifty delegates from 14 countries and 5 continents, representing scientific institutions, traditional healers, governmental and non-governmental agencies and multilateral institutions, participated in the facilitated workshop.
At the heart of this initiative is the integration of traditional and modern medicine with modern science. By developing this golden triangle on a global level, we are working towards the provision of integrated healthcare that is affordable and accessible, especially for the poor, safe and effective.
Delegates built on the learning from the 1st Indigenous Knowledge workshop held in 2005 and developed a six point plan to take this initiative forward.
Delegates to the 2nd Indigenous Knowledge Workshop held in India
1st Innovation Systems Workshop
The 1st Innovation Systems Workshop at community level took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-8 February 2006. The meeting was hosted by SIRIM-Berhad under the auspices of the World Bank and the Global Research Alliance, supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia and the Swiss Development Corporation. Yb Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaludin Dato’ Mohd. Jarjis, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation officiated at the workshop. Fifty delegates from 15 countries, representing scientific institutions, practitioners, governmental and non-governmental agencies and multilateral institutions, participated in the facilitated workshop.
After very fruitful discussions regarding innovation from the viewpoint of industry, government, communities and agents the participants to the workshop developed suggested actions for moving this initiative forward. An 8 point plan was developed from the inputs and presented to Dato’ Dr Mohd. Ariffin Hj Aton, CEO of SIRIM Berhad Malaysia.
YB Dato’ Sri Dr Jamaludin Dato’ Mohd. Jarjis, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, interacting with participants to the workshop
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This GRA/World Bank workshop which will be held in India from 1-3 February will be hosted by CSIR India and will build on the roadmap which was developed at the first workshop held in South Africa in February 2004. The emphasis will be on the integration of traditional and modern medicine and the formulation of further action plans to take this initiative forward.
Scientists, local innovators and representatives of international agencies and government will convene in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-8 February 2006 for the first workshop on Innovation Systems at Community Level. Convened by the Global Research Alliance and the World Bank and hosted by SIRIM-Berhad the workshop will focus on the development of appropriate approaches to the promotion of grassroots innovation and the identification of a number of pilot projects for implementation during 2006.
Kopanong (the place of meeting) was the venue for the GRA/World Bank workshop on Indigenous Knowledge which took place from 9-11 February. The goal of the workshop was to being together traditional healers and scientists from many part of the world to discuss and plan the way forward on the complex issues of validation, benefit sharing and intellectual property. 
Mr Nicolas Gorjestani and his wife Elahe Vakil hosted a dinner for the delegation and some senior World Bank staff members – from left to right: Mr Mohamed Muhsin, Vice President and Chief Information Officer World Bank; Mr Jean-Louis Sarbib, Senior Vice President World Bank; Mr Nicolas Gorjestani, Senior Advisor and Chief Knowledge Officer – Africa Region (World Bank); Dr Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis, Director Global Development, CSIRO; Mr Nils Tcheyan, Acting Vice President – Africa Region (World Bank); Dr Richard Adam, Vice President Battelle Memorial Institute; Dr Reinie Biesenbach Manager: GRA Nerve Centre, CSIR South Africa
The Principals of the GRA met recently in Melbourne, Australia for the 4th Annual Meeting of the Alliance. The highly successful and exciting meeting was hosted by CSIRO who put together a comprehensive programme for the participants. In opening the meeting Mr Petro Georgiou MP (Chair of the Australian Parliament’s House of Representatives Committee on Science and Innovation) emphasized the value of partnerships such as the Alliance by saying: “partnerships create avenues for ideas to move swiftly between scientists, business and government. They smooth the path from inspiration to commercialisation”. The Hon John Brumby, Treasurer and Minister for Innovation of the Government of Victoria also shared the Victorian Innovation Agenda and remarked “By maximising strengths to meet global challenges, Victoria and GRA are making significant contributions to bringing a better quality of life to many people and making for a better world”.
The meeting of Principals delivered clear outcomes on the further development of the GRA and agreement was reached in all focus areas of the Alliance. A GRA Executive Committee was appointed to manage the strategic direction of the Alliance. This group has been elected for two years. 
A very successful meeting of Champions was held in Washington DC last week.
Dr Graham Harris, Chair of the Water Action Council, delivered a most stimulating and visionary President's Lecture during his recent visit to South Africa on the topic "Science, Water and Society - the Challenge and Complexity of the 'Fourth' Way".
Dr Gerry Stokes, Director of the Joint Global Change Research Programme of Battelle (second from the right at the back), Mr William Chandler, Laboratory Fellow of Battelle (third from the left in the middle row) and Mr Mel Perel of Battelle (back row on the right), seen here with members of the CSIR Energy Thrust last Friday. The Battelle representatives were recently in South Africa on an eight-day visit to familiarise themselves with the energy challenges confronting South Africa. Discussions took place with a variety of stakeholders in the energy sector.
