The entire background report is divided into four parts: (1) Development challenges; (2) Development trends; (3) Scientific and technological innovation; (4) Framework for global action.
In the first part, the report first points out the current environment in which STI is related to MDGs. The report begins by pointing out that the history of some backward countries and regions successfully catching up with developed countries in the second half of the 20th century shows that institutional design and social and cultural factors have promoted the improvement of their own technological capabilities. Typical examples are the so-called Asian Tigers (South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong). In addition to adopting some well-known successful practices such as investing in science and technology and promoting education, some countries or regions have also adopted some special measures. For example, South Korea has adopted some import protection measures to enhance its industrial and technological strength, and India has adopted some chemical and pharmaceutical measures. Part of the reason for industrial strength is the adoption of patent strategies. However, the global environment has now changed dramatically. Compared with past periods, the salient features of today's era are: (1) Economic globalization, forming a global production network; (2) Geopolitical changes have made it easier for some countries to obtain technology and technology from the United States and other advanced countries. Considerable development assistance; (3) the intellectual property system has changed; (4) the development of new revolutionary technologies (information technology and biotechnology) is bringing new pressures and opportunities to all walks of life in society. Today, the development of developing countries will face constraints that their forerunners did not have and will also face unprecedented challenges. Facing the challenges of the times, developing countries should break away from the debated "Good Governance/Poor Governance" in the past and broaden their horizons. Good governance and good government are necessary for development. However, if developing countries today need to cope with challenges, good governance and good government alone are not enough. They must also rely on innovation. Innovation policy – ??including scientific and technological issues as well as the systematic institutionalization of learning in industry, agriculture and services – is a vital part of economic development or reconstruction plans. The role of science and technology should be viewed from a broader perspective: (1) Science and technology are a source of economic growth. When a country's economic development becomes more and more important to its position in the world and its attractiveness to other countries, the consolidating and supporting role of its scientific and technological foundation is irreplaceable; (2) Science and technology can improve the government's efficiency; (3) science and technology policy, if well constructed, can directly address pressing needs in infrastructure such as agriculture, social services, water and sanitation; (4) science and technology is a lever for national development and has Help promote the country's international cooperation and seize new market opportunities.
Then, the report reviews the main development trends and discusses that technological progress is the source of economic productivity. The first obvious trend is that there are differences between regions. Within the MDGs, there are some pressing regional issues, such as the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in many African and South Asian countries. In most tropical areas, malaria is still a serious threat to human disease with high mortality, and these areas are very poor and have very poor sanitation facilities. Solving such regional problems requires new forms of cooperation. For many developing countries, the difficulty lies in the fact that some problems are intertwined (for example, AIDS in some African countries is linked to economic opportunities in the labor market), survival and development exist simultaneously, and multiple goals coexist—policy reform and Institutional creation is interconnected. We must consciously invest in endogenous capabilities, vigorously promote the development of private enterprises and the establishment and improvement of corresponding financial, legal and political systems, and invest in people's health and healthy infrastructure. In response to some misunderstandings about technology transfer over the years, the report pointed out that technology, in the broadest sense, is a knowledge system, of which technology and instruments in actual material form are only one element. Technology is deeply dependent on learning patterns, adaptation to new technologies, and education systems.
More specifically, government science and technology policies play a key role in economic transformation. For most developing countries, a key area that requires policy adjustments is the way governments receive consultation on relevant science and technology issues. Scientific and technical advice needs to be accessible and reach decision-makers. The first and necessary step is to provide an institutional framework for consultation and to commit to supporting such a framework. The most successful institutional systems for science advisory are the Office of Science Advisor to a senior leader (the president or prime minister) and the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering. The report points out that the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering is the most successful scientific advisory mechanism, such as the historically famous Royal Academy of England, the current Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Malaysian Academy of Sciences.
Human capital is the foundation of a country’s economic and social development. The significance of building human abilities is self-evident. This includes improving the overall quality of the country's manpower for economic development. The successful experience in East Asia shows that universal basic education is a basic and effective measure. In contrast, lagging Latin American and South Asian countries have enrollment rates of only 15-30%. Developing countries that have achieved high economic growth have invested heavily in education. For example, Tunisia spent 30% of its budget on education. While the MDGs strive to universalize primary education, the importance of science education at the secondary (secondary) and tertiary (university) levels of education for an innovative society cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, developing countries should attach great importance to science education at a high level.
Promoting business activities is very important for developing countries in today's era of globalization. This includes making full use of incentives ranging from tax rules and market tools to consumption policies, with a particular focus on supporting and helping small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the conditions of globalization, the challenge facing developing countries is how to obtain technology from FDI, which has become practical and changeable. Promoting business activities also includes factors related to the protection of intellectual property, industrial expansion services, government procurement and capital markets. The report points out that the current WTO agenda is dominated by the trading system, and consideration of development is fragmented. Integration with international rules has put great pressure on developing countries, and although the WTO has the intention to consider trade and development issues together, it will be difficult.
The main purpose of investing in research and development is to improve the country's scientific and technological capabilities. Common problems in the development of science and technology in developing countries are: (1) Orientation issues: Oriented by international frontier development, you can gain the benefits of publishing papers in international publications, but you may be out of touch with domestic development issues. However, if it focuses on domestic development issues, it may run the risk of being separated from international mainstream scientific journals and academia; (2) (Enterprise) needs are unclear and there is a lack of demand for value addition and more complex technical activities; (2) 3) Research institutes and laboratories are insulated from business. The report points out that an important development path for developing countries is to promote various forms of integration of industry, academia and research. Successful examples include Australian Collaboration Centers (CRCs) and China's Spin-off (Lenovo, Great Wall). Regarding the common under-investment problem in developing countries, the report proposes that channels for international cooperation should be actively opened.
Finally, look forward. The first is to focus and determine the country’s priority areas for science and technology development in the future through the Foresight method currently commonly used by countries around the world; the second is to broaden the horizons, place the development of science and technology in a broader socio-economic context, and attract public participation decision making.