The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the continuing validity of the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for Development, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development, which the General Assembly endorsed in its resolution 34/218 of 19 December 1979 and subsequently reaffirmed in its resolution 44/14 A of 26 October 1989,
Recalling the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, the Cartagena Commitment, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its eighth session, the recommendations and decisions adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly those contained in Agenda 21, General Assembly resolution 46/165 of 19 December 1991, and other resolutions and decisions adopted by the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system concerning science and technology for development,
Recognizing, in the context of relevant measures to restructure the Secretariat and of General Assembly resolution 47/212 of 23 December 1992, the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in this respect,
Bearing in mind the vital contribution of science and technology, including new and emerging technologies, to the reactivation of economic growth and development of the developing countries and their efforts to achieve the objectives set forth by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
Reaffirming that capacity-building in science and technology for development in the developing countries should remain one of the priority issues on the agenda of the United Nations,
Recognizing that the United Nations should play a central role in the enhancement of support and assistance to the developing countries in their efforts to build their endogenous capacity in science and technology,
Recalling the need to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, access to and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, in particular to the developing countries, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs of the developing countries for the implementation of Agenda 21,
Stressing the need for developed countries and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of developing countries to create and develop endogenous scientific and technological capabilities,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on ways and means of strengthening endogenous capacity-building in science and technology in the developing countries,
1. Endorses the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1993 on the basis of the report of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development on its first session, including the recommendation that the Council, at its organizational session for 1994, include science and technology for development as a priority subject to be considered at the coordination segment of the Council in 1994;
2. Stresses that endogenous capacity-building in science and technology in the developing countries is indispensable to their efforts to mobilize indigenous resources for science and technology for development;
3. Emphasizes the vital role of the United Nations in supporting the developing countries in endogenous capacity-building in the field of science and technology;
4. Urges that national efforts and international development cooperation, in particular through supportive financial and technical assistance from donor Governments, multilateral lending institutions and international agencies, be intensified and strengthened towards endogenous capacity-building in science and technology in the developing countries;
5. Welcomes the initiative for a consultative meeting to consider ways and means for organizing a more effective coalition of resources to meet the scientific and technological needs of the developing countries, and requests the Secretary-General to make provisions for convening such a meeting, within existing resources, as soon as possible;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of programme 17, science and technology for development, of the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997 and the activities planned for the biennium 1994-1995 in the field of science and technology for development, in accordance with the specific mandates provided for in relevant General Assembly resolutions;
7. Stresses the urgent need to strengthen the vital role of the United Nations in the field of science and technology, particularly through better coordination, including in the fields of technology assessment, monitoring and forecasting;
8. Calls upon the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the Commission on Sustainable Development to interact effectively, through the Economic and Social Council, in carrying out their respective mandates;
9. Recognizes the importance of cooperation among the developing countries in the field of science and technology, building on their comparative advantages and complementarities, and urges the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other relevant international, regional or subregional organizations and programmes to provide continued and enhanced support, through technical assistance and financing, as appropriate, for such efforts;
10. Recognizes also the potentially important role of the United Nations Fund for Science and Technology for Development in enhancing endogenous capacity-building in science and technology in the developing countries, and calls upon all countries in a position to do so to contribute generously to the Fund;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session on progress in the implementation of the present resolution, as well as on ways and means of reinvigorating the Fund and ensuring its effective operation.
86th plenary meeting
21 December 1993
