A Leapfrog Panoply (WC Archive)

SciDev.Net -- which focuses on the intersection of science/technology and the developing world -- has an impressive number of stories today perfect for Leapfrog Nations. Rather than dribble them out one at a time, here's the whole set for your leapfrogging pleasure. The SciDev.Net posts are short summaries of longer articles from regional media, so be sure to follow the links.

India-Tanzania Scientific Collaboration.

Hailing India's technological prowess, [Tanzanian President] Mkapa said it was an inspiration and a guide for Tanzania's own social, economic and scientific development. He added that Indian intermediate technologies were well-tested and were very much needed in less developed countries.

Not to be outdone, Jordan-Pakistan Scientific Collaboration

The eight projects will include work in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, renewable energy and pharmaceuticals. The two countries will also consider additional projects in these and other fields, including nanotechnology.

Perhaps they'll get support from... the Islamic Development Bank Science Network

Mohamed Ghazali, head of the IDB scholarship programme office, through which the funds for the network would be administered, says its proposed activities will include publication of a science magazine, which has the working title Science and Development.

The publication would seek to promote cooperation between scientists, as well as disseminate scientific information, including the results of studies monitoring the development and socio-economic impact of science and technology in member countries of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

South Africa's Science and Technology Minister Announces 'Biotechnology Roadmap'

The policy calls for the establishment of world-class genomics capability, with at least one national facility and a number of centres of excellence. It also emphasises the need to develop cell and tissue culture technologies, such as cloning, stem cell research, plant tissue culture and gene banks.

[...]

Mangena also identifies needs related to research infrastructure for the design, testing and manufacture of drugs and vaccines. Among these are improved biosensors, particularly those designed to monitor metabolite levels in humans and animals, and bioassays to identify compounds in screening programmes.

And finally, Costa Rica Opens Latin America's First Nanotechnology Center

The laboratory will begin working on two projects. One will research, design and construct microsensors, a field of research in which Diaz was awarded Costa Rica's national science prize in 1999.

The other project will research and construct carbon nanotubules, small cylindrical structures used in the manufacture of advanced electronics materials. On this project, Lanotec will collaborate with the Costa Rican chemist Jeannette Benavides, who is director of the carbon nanotubules project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre based in Maryland, United States.

Anyone who thinks the future is being created only in the labs of the richest nations is in for quite a surprise.