By Mickey Kavera – EM TV, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea does not have a national research and innovation plan to guide its development agendas.
Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Science and Technology Council Secretariat, Professor Teatulohi Matainaho, highlighted this during the National Research Agenda Workshop, today.
He urged that emphasis must now be placed on research to contribute to a vibrant knowledge base.
The National Research Agenda Workshop brought together academics to formulate a research and innovation plan for Papua New Guinea. Discussions were centered on key priority areas of research that could drive the development agenda of the country.
Professor Teatulohi Matainaho indicated that focus on research has taken a slow progress in recent years. He says, PNG has a competitive edge given its abundance of resource.
But there is lack of skills and technology to develop these resources resulting in 90 per cent of products and technology been imported.
This places PNG largely as a ‘consumer of innovation’ and not a creator of innovation.
Professor Teatulohi believes this trend can be reserved if the country increases its knowledge base through research on key priority areas.
The workshop ends tomorrow and it is hope an amicable outcome will be achieved by the PNG Science and Technology Council Secretariat and its stakeholders.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=KKaAO6BayT4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
