The session
highlighted how science, technology, and enterprise development can work towards
fulfilling the basic needs of the poor. Prof. Y K Alagh highlighted the importance of
technology and requirements of organisational and financial rules for poverty alleviation.
Prof. Yoichi Kaya remarked on the necessity of a co-operative effort—in the field of
technology adaptation or technology innovation—with equal contributions from the
developed and the developing world.
Dr Joe Madiath emphasized the importance of
renewable technologies for providing electricity to remote areas that lack access to grid
electricity, communication technologies (satellite telephone) for ensuring connectivity of
the rural areas.
Mr David J Stanton stressed the important
role of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) creating significant commercial and
employment opportunities in developing countries. He highlighted several barriers to their
growth in these countries including large-scale state intervention, outdated laws,
excessive regulation (leading to market distortions), lack of financial services (credit,
leasing, and insurance instruments), and shortage of management skill and business
development services.
Dr Joachim Treusch highlighted how
scientific success and technical implementation of some of the most important areas of
research in the 21st century (climate change, new energy sources and energy
storage, new materials, information technology, transport, health, and environment) are
based on sound knowledge base in physics. |
