Economist.com |--Third-world biotechnology

Economist.com -- Third-world biotechnology:

"'THE future belongs to science and those who make friends with science,' Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, observed. But cutting-edge research -- the stuff of shiny labs and brainy boffins'is seen largely as the preserve of Europe and America, not something to be found in poor places such as India. Yet India, China and several other developing countries have shown they can move beyond western imitation to homegrown innovation in certain fields, such as telecommunications and information technology"

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"There is also plenty of scope for poor countries to work with, and learn from, one another. Last month, scientists from 11 Asian countries formed a consortium to study genetic variations in their populations. Farther afield, Heber Biotec, a Cuban operation, is working with Indian and Malaysian companies to manufacture and market its biotechnology products. Rich countries should pay attention, too. Dr Singer (Peter Singer, director of the Joint Centre for Bioethics at the University of Toronto) argues that donors would do well to consider investing in biotech, and encourage their private firms to establish partnerships with research centres in poorer places, as part of their overseas-aid packages. A few countries, such as Canada and Britain, are placing more emphasis on science in their foreign assistance, but there is room for development. For poor countries, a little biotech could be just what the doctor ordered."