2012 TECH4DEV INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE/TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A WAY TO REDUCE POVERTY?

As a UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development, the Cooperation & Development Center (CODEV) has the pleasure to announce that an international conference concerning Technologies for Sustainable Development: A Way to Reduce Poverty? (Tech4Dev 2012) Conference will take place at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland on 29-31 May 2012.

Conference Guiding Themes

     - "Appropriate Technology"? Needs and Participation
     - Towards a Sustainable Integrated Development? Partnerships and Systems
     - Technology: Transfer or Co-Creation? Knowledge Sharing and Empowerment

Overview

Whilst scientific research can be crucial in guiding innovation and development throughout the world it remains often too detached from reality, particularly in developing and emerging countries. Thus, the challenge is to link scientific research and development practices in order to develop a win-win situation in which science and technologies can assist practitioners as well as reply to social needs. The conference will look at how science and technologies can support both sustainable development in developing and emerging countries and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as defined by the United Nations in 2000. It will bring researchers and practitioners together in order to bridge the gap between the two communities, focusing on collaboration, methodologies, instruments and policies that could be used and/or encouraged. The possibility of a universal tool and policies for science, technology and innovation that could be of assistance in future collaborations will also be introduced.

The conference will offer unique opportunities for the acquisition of skills, information-sharing and networking and will be conducive to:
    
     - Improving research adapted to the beneficiaries;
     - Enhancing research practices;
     - Developing better integrated and interdisciplinary research;
     - Involving professional and practitioners in these efforts.

Who Should Attend?

     - Innovative, talented researchers (doctorates, post-doctorates, students, etc.) and practitioners (private sector, public
       collectivities,representatives from NGO or international organizations) eager to share their research and project outcomes in order to
       bridge the gap between the two communities for realistic solutions to the real world challenges.
     - In order for the conference to be as inclusive and as diverse as possible, participants from developing or emerging countries are strongly
       encouraged to attend.

Deadline: 15 December 2011

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