Trade and Technology
Transfer Working Group
Session
Major issues
 The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology is dedicated to R&D and technology
transfer to the developing world
 There is an urgent need for the development of a
new IPR culture in the field of life sciences
 Expanded reach of the WTO in mandate and
membership has significant implications for
technological transfer and trade
 Suspension of the Doha Development Agenda
Specific trends
 Increasing role of select developing countries in the
innovation and production of advanced technologies
(Cuba, India, South Africa, Brazil….)
 Open source, open access technologies in ICT and
possible lessons learnt
 Upsurge in international trade in services and the
profound implications on technology transfer
Challenges and opportunities
 Ethical issues in relation to IPR protection
for sensitive products (e.g. life saving drugs)
 Shift in the process of North - South
dialogue (e.g. Doha Development Agenda)
 Suspension of DDA: opportunity for reevaluation and development of new proposals
 Discrimination between real scientific
objections and protectionism
Role of UNU and UNESCO
 Need for neutral space for policy dialogue
and debate on IPR and Trade
 Continued capacity development of science
and technical specialists in developing
countries
 Providing a forum for dialogue between
opponents and proponents of globalisation
Specific Proposals for the future
 Re-examine the relationship between and rules of
Trade and Technology transfer: to promote coherence
and coordination between these and the institutions
that govern them
 Developing countries have valid, unfulfilled
expectations of TRIPS: fully implement TRIPS
preamble and develop legally binding obligations and
monitoring mechanisms
 Facilitate movement of technical staff from
developing countries for short-term skills
development for effective uptake of new technologies