One of the conclusions of the United Nations World Summit in 2005 was that the United Nations should be more proactive in promoting science and technology as a decisive means to address development challenges and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

UNCTAD, as a key entity for science and technology within the United Nations system and serving as Secretariat to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), has therefore a major role to play in this area.

The Network of Centres of Excellence was designed in response to this auspice, on the recommendation by the CSTD at its seventh session in May 2004 [PDf]. Its mandate is to work with selected outstanding scientific and technological institutions in the developing world and use them as regional hubs of research and training, mainly by running training courses and seminars for scientists and engineers from developing countries.

The Network of Centres of Excellence´s potential lies in its focus on the "South–South" dimension. On the one hand, given their experience in addressing challenges and difficulties of developing countries, scientific institutions in these countries are in the best position to share their knowledge and skills with other countries in the region; on the other, young scientists and researchers are more likely to return home from a South–South exchange rather than a North–South one, thus reversing the negative impact of "brain drain".

Additional support from public and private bodies that approve the objectives of UNCTAD´s Network of Centres of Excellence and wish to contribute to its further development is welcome. 

Do not hesitate to contact us for additional details; our staff will be happy to answer any questions and provide any information you may require.