Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South
 | |
| Formation | 4–5 October 1994 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Abdus Salam |
| Type | Intergovernmental Organization |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
Membership | 21 Countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America |
Executive Director | Imtinan Elahi Qureshi |
| Website | COMSATS |
The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (abbreviated as COMSATS) is an inter-governmental organization, having a membership of 21 developing countries from three continents, Latin America, Africa and Asia. . Nineteen S&T/R&D institutions of developing countries are affiliated with COMSATS as its Network of International S&T Centres of Excellence for Sustainable Development in the South. The organization aims at sustainable socio-economic uplift of the developing countries through appropriate applications of science and technology using the approach of South-South cooperation.
H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, is the incumbent Chairperson of COMSATS, who assumed this position on 24th July 2012. The current Executive Director of COMSATS is Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi who succeeded Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan in September 2008.
COMSATS has the following objectives, as outlined in its Statutes:
• To sensitize the countries of the South to the centrality of science and technology in the development process, to the adequate allocation of resources for research and development, and to the integration of science and technology in the national and regional development plans;
• To support the functioning and activities of the Network of International Science and Technology Centres for Sustainable Development in the South established under this agreement;
• To support other major initiatives designed to promote indigenous capacity-building in science and technology for science-led sustainable development, and to help mobilize long-term financial support from international donor agencies and from governments / institutions in the North and the South to supplement the financing of international scientific projects in the South;
• To provide leadership and support for North-South and South-South cooperative schemes in education, training and research; and
• To support the relevant programmes and initiatives of major international organizations working for the development and promotion of science and technology in the South.
History
COMSATS was established following a foundation meeting organized by the Government of Pakistan, held on October 4-5, 1994, at the behest of the world renowned scientist and Nobel Laureate from Pakistan, Prof. Abdus Salam. The Inter-governmental Agreement to this effect was signed in Islamabad, with support of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of Pakistan, the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Consortium on Science, Technology and Innovation for the South (COSTIS).
See also
References
Further reading
- Cook, Nancy (2007). Gender, Identity, and Imperialism: Women Development Workers in Pakistan. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4039-7991-9.
- Polishuk, Paul, ed. (December 1996). "Global One Technology Brings New Capabilities to Emerging Nations". Russian Telecom Newsletter (Information Gatekeepers, Inc.) 3 (12). ISSN 1080-2169.
- Wootton, Richard; Patil, Nivritti G.; Ho, Kendall (2009). Telehealth in the Developing World. International Development Research Centre. ISBN 978-1-85315-784-4.