COMSTECH Offers Free Science Literature

Organization of the Islamic Conference Committee on Science and Technology (COMSTECH) has given fresh call to the researchers of the 57 Islamic countries to utilize free scientific literature search service which provides the required data within one working day of receiving a request from researchers. The process is just a click away after the researchers fill in the request form available on COMSTECH’s website and email it to COMSTECH.

The COMSTECH Literature Search Service has processed requests from 13,849 researchers transferring 27.76 GB of data to date. The data transferred makes about 13.88 million pages as text files.

“Keeping in view the difficulties of the OIC research community, COMSTECH initiated free scientific literature search service with an electronic database covering about 6000 journals. At present the service covers Agricultural Sciences, Biology and Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical, Chemical & Earth Sciences, Engineering and Computing Technology.”, the Desk In-charge told COMSTECH News.

“The procedure has been constantly refined and it now meets requests received at the COMSTECH normally within one working day. COMSTECH has direct access to the databases in the United States of America and the most current results are provided to the researchers.” he added.

The researchers from twenty OIC member states have, so far, benefited from this facility. These countries include People's Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Malaysia, Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Mozambique, Sultanate of Oman, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Republic of Yemen.

Apart from services to the OIC research community within the OIC region, COMSTECH has also supplied literature to OIC scientists and students performing short-term research in Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom.

The searches lead to the required information if the keywords are correctly and expertly provided. The data is sent in MS Word format as a text file by email and COMSTECH does not mail hardcopies of the information. All scientists, researchers, students and science policy makers of the OIC member states are welcome to use this COMSTECH service free of charge.

COMSTECH Email addresses for Literature Search Service Requests
comstech@isb.apollo.net.pk

Reported by: Ameen Amjad

COMSTECH Organizes Training Course on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(Islamabad) Organization of the Islamic Conference Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) organized a two-week training course on “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” for OIC member states’ professionals, managers and researchers working in the public and private sectors.

The interactive training course held from May 18-28, 2009 was arranged by Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) Policy Research and Training Center at the COMSTECH Building in Islamabad, the federal metropolis of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The training course, declared useful by the participants, was sixth of the series under a project by the COMSTECH for capacity building of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) professionals from the OIC member states. The course aimed to contribute towards socio-economic development in the OIC region.

Participants included scientists from Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Sultanate of Oman, Republic of Yemen and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The course instructors were from Pakistan, USA, and UAE.
The training course mainly covered the topics related to relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship, public policies to support technology development in enterprises, entrepreneurship challenges and the knowledge management, legal structures and intellectual property protection for entrepreneurship.

Reported by: Ameen Amjad

OIC Secretary General Commends COMSTECH Efforts for Development of Science and Technology in the OIC Member States

Addressing the opening session of the 36th Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC member states which was held from May 23-25 in Damascus, the capital city of the Syrian Arabic Republic, H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) commended efforts being rendered by the COMSTECH for science and technology development in the OIC member states.

He highlighted major advancements and activities undertaken in the field of science and technology with special reference to the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. He also spoke on a host of other issues facing the Ummah.

While referring to the utmost need to equip the OIC nations with latest knowledge and technology, the OIC Secretary General appreciated the achievements made through the Ten-Year Program of Action which suggested a detailed course of action for self-reliance through adoption of latest knowledge in the field of science and technology. COMSTECH is one of the bodies working towards the implementation of science-related provisions of this program.

“Ten-Year Program of Action has managed to set up concept of a unified and mutually supportive Islamic world that is capable of facing the challenges [of today]. We have stimulated quality education and seen to the evolvement of joint initiatives in the field of science and technology.” said the Secretary General.

While appreciating member states that are committed to the implementation of the Ten-Year Program of Action, The Secretary General urged all the member states to speed up their efforts and collaboration in order to achieve the goals stipulated in the this visionary and action-oriented program.

“I would like to propose holding a mid-term review meeting in 2010 with regard to the progress made in implementing this program, during the meetings of COMIAC [Standing Committee on Culture and Information], COMCEC [Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation] and COMSTECH (Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation), to which we extend our thanks and gratitude for the commendable efforts they are making in their respective fields of activity.”, The Secretary General said further.

“In the domain of science and technology, the Plan of Action for cars and airplanes has been completed, thanks to financial support from the IDB (Islamic Development Bank), and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry which has created a joint capital for science and technology to be added to the capital earmarked by the IDB to science and technology projects.” The secretary General informed the foreign ministers.

Reported by: Ameen Amjad

Experts Speak for Acquiring Emerging Technologies

Science and technology experts from OIC member states have strongly recommended acquiring new and emerging technologies for rapid development in the region. The experts observed this during Conference on Science and Technology held on May 24, 2009 as a parallel event to the 36th Conference of the OIC Foreign Ministers, in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.

Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Coordinator General of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), was among the keynote speakers.

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman highlighted the need for reviewing the current status of the science and technology policies of the OIC member states and stressed to match those with regard to 21st century’s challenges. He also highlighted the role of COMSTECH in technology promotion and described importance of recently launched COMSTECH Technology Exchange Forum for OIC member states.

The first session was also addressed by Dr. Mukhtar Hatim, Assistant Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Razley bin Mohd Nordin, the Director General of the OIC Science and Technology Department.

The Conference held with the theme “Scientific and Technological Achievements and Discoveries in the Field of New and Emerging Technologies”, hailed OIC Vision 1441 for Science and Technology and the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action which urges acquisition of advanced technologies.

Early Harvest and Mega Projects, which speak for facilitating transfer of research and development results through joint design, development, manufacturing and common marketing of high technology products, were also elaborated before the participants.

The second session of the conference reviewed innovation systems in the OIC member states. The speakers examined innovation systems of the advanced nations and recommended how the OIC nations can evolve mechanisms and approaches for the joint action within the OIC countries and generate wealth through economic activities.

The speakers presented the progress, latest developments and achievements in biotechnology, agro-technology and nanotechnology fields and proposed joint action on the subjects in order to make collective advancement in the OIC region.

The closing ceremony of the conference, during which the keynote speakers shared their views in order to offer recommendations, was moderated by Ambassador Ali Akbar Salehi, Assistant Secretary General of the OIC on science and technology.

The conference noted with concern that the indicators related to the share of OIC member states in high technology exports amounts to only 1.5% of the world’s high-tech exports. These products are mainly produced by only three member states including Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey.

While acknowledging that the current contribution of the Islamic countries in the world science and technology development is very weak, the conference recommended that high priority should be accorded to the science and technology development, particularly, in the field of emerging technologies for progress and prosperity of the OIC member states.

In its final report, the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers commended the Syrian Government, COMSTECH, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and other related OIC institutions and made a note of the recommendations by the conference.

Council of OIC Foreign Ministers Urges Member States to Cooperate with COMSTECH

Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has urged the member states and the relevant OIC institutions to cooperate with OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), so that the COMSTECH is able to meet the objectives of the OIC Vision 1441 for science and technology and related provisions of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. The CFM declared this during its 36th meeting held from 23-25 May, 2009 in Damascus, the capital city of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The CFM appreciated the role COMSTECH is playing for implementation of the OIC Vision 1441 for science and technology and science related agenda of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action.

The CFM commended the decisions of the 13th General Assembly of COMSTECH which recommended optimum utilization of the science and technology for the overall progress, welfare and prosperity of the Ummah.

The CFM urged COMSTECH to continue giving priority to the special program for Africa in accordance with the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. It also called upon COMSTECH to continue taking the lead in setting policy guidelines to unify and integrate activities of all S&T institutions in the OIC system.

The Damascus meeting of the foreign ministers of OIC member states called upon COMSTECH and ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to keep up and consolidate their cooperation for science and technology development in the Islamic world.

The foreign ministers welcomed the initiative of the COMSTECH Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) for organizing an expert group meeting in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 18-19 October 2008 which led to a sideline OIC ministerial meeting on water during 5th World Water Forum held in Istanbul on March 20, 2009. The INWRDAM, under COMSTECH umbrella, is working towards developing OIC Water Vision.

The CFM appreciated the setting up of Science and Technology Venture Capital Fund by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support transfer of technology and urged the OIC member states to contribute generously to the Fund.

The session called upon the member states to establish technology parks in order to strengthen the linkages between research and development and between higher education and industry. It also recommended demonstration of technology innovations through organizing technology trade fairs.

Thirty-sixth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held with the theme “enhancing Islamic solidarity” also adopted a number of resolutions on a host of other issues including matters related to culture, economy, environment and politics.

The Damascus Declaration issued at the end of the meeting underlined the need for mastering science and knowledge in order to be powerful in the international comity of nations.

Reported by Ameen Amjad