Science and Technology Research and Development Data - Papua New Guinea

Pongie Kichawen, PhD

Office of Higher Education

Papua New Guinea

Outline• Introduction• Country Profile• Structure of science and technology in PNG• Research and Science & Technology Institutions• Status of Research and Development Data in Science

and Technology in PNG• Importance of Science & Technology R & D Data• Policy Initiatives• Future Plan for Science and Technology Data• How have and can UNESCO Assist• Conclusion

Introduction

• Thank UNESCO and the Institute for Statistics and other sponsors including:

- UNESCO Science Policy and Sustainable Development Division

- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Cambodia, Scientific Research Department

- UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh- UNESCO Office in Jakarta

• Great Initiative• Importance of sharing of S&T data

and knowledge• Capacity Building• Economic Benefits• Relating S&T data and policy to

major economic development policies

Country Profile

• Located in the South West Pacific, Australia up North and Indonesia to the West

• Population of approx. 6 million• Land area of 462,840 km² • More than 800 languages• English is the language of

instruction at schools

Country Profile continue

• Political system is democracy Westminster System of Government

• Resources – Minerals, Oil, Gas, Agriculture commodities

• < 0.3 % of GDP on R & D

Science and Technology Structure

Ministry of HigherEducation, Research,

Scienceand Technology

Commission forHigher

Education

Office of HigherEducation

Research, Science and Technology Council

Science and Technology

InitiativeCommittee

Secretariat

Research, Science and Technology Institutions• 6 Universities• 4 Specialized research institutions

in Agriculture, Medical, Coffee, Coconut, Cocoa

• Government agencies departments• K300m approx. US$ 100m

Status of Research and Development Data in Science and Technology in PNG• Importance of use of Data• Internal use only • Data available, not in digital form• No centralized system• Only made aware of UNESCO

requirement • Support UNESCO initiative

Importance of Science & Technology R & D Data

• Know the types of R & D taking place in PNG• Know how much is being spent on R & D• Know how R & D data can be linked to national

priorities• Believe S & T is the foundation for modernisation drive

from rural based economy to high tech market economy

• Encourage Universities and other tertiary institutions to contribute to R & D

• Promote key partners in research and development• Develop a national innovation system• Identify industrial training support for undergraduates

in S&T • Incubation Parks for S&T graduates• Inauguration of national research and scientific awards• Resource based funding of research in S&T

Policy Initiatives

• S & T Policy in 1991• S & T Council Act 1992• Policy for Supporting Research and

Development 2007• S &T Initiative in 2007• RST Council established in 2008

Future Plan for Science and Technology Data • Commenced data collection &

compilation in 2008 • Budget provision for 2009 data

collection & compilation• Dispatch UNESCO database

questionnaire• Commence a HE Management

Information System to link universities and research institutions

How have and can UNESCO Assist?

• Exposing PNG to a workshop like this

• Conduct a similar workshop in PNG including other Pacific countries

• Build capacity and R & D data system in PNG

Conclusion

PNG does not have an R & D centralised database system and needs UNESCO assistance to set it up

END

Questions?