European Commission

How does information and communications technology help scientific research? And how can that benefit the developing world?

These are questions I set out to answer on a visit to Geneva today.

You may not know, but as well as being a European Commissioner, I have also since 2010 been a Commissioner for the UN’s “broadband commission for digital development“. The UN’s Commission aims to boost the role of broadband on the international policy agenda, in particular examining its role in helping with the Millennium Development Goals.

This UN role takes up rather less of my time than being European Commissioner! But nonetheless it’s very interesting for me: not just because it relates to the fascinating issue of ICT and development. But also because of the working environment: I’m used to working in a multicultural environment, but with 193 member states of the UN rather than the EU’s 27, this really takes it to the next level!

The Broadband Commission’s work is split into different working groups examining different facets of the question like health, education and so on. I have the great privilege of chairing the working group which is looking at the role of broadband and science – and it was to deliver the final report of this group that I was in Geneva, at ITU headquarters.

Modern scientific research increasingly depends on information and communications technology, helping different research projects to link up and collaborate.

Often such collaboration is enabled thanks to research and education networks, or “RENs”, organised at a national or supranational level. Here in Europe, we have the incredible “GÉANT” project, thanks to which 40 million researchers and students in 40 European countries can share massive volumes of data — the data they need to study the smallest known particles, to find a cure for epilepsy, or to set up a typhoon early warning system.

Such research can benefit the developing world – for example when it comes to research on malaria or natural disasters.

But broadband does not just benefit science for the developing world – it benefits science in the developing world too. In places like Chile, where low light pollution levels are conducive to astronomical observation, and where scientists make use of the regional RedClara network, itself largely funded by the EU. Even in a place like Somalia, the existence of a research and education network is not just remarkable – in a country with few functional national organisations – but positive, as an agent for change supporting healthcare, education services and the Fibre for Peace initiative.

We are also bringing sub-Saharan Africa into the picture, one of the last regions in the world to enjoy broadband connectivity, thanks to the EU-funded AfricaConnect initiative. This will develop a high-speed communication backbone, providing local research networking infrastructure and access to GÉANT for many African national networks, while building the capacity of other sub-Saharan countries to join the network later.

Taking these case studies and others, we found many benefits of such ICT-enabled research networks – particularly in developing countries where distance and location can represent a significant barrier – and that such networks can be used to spearhead innovation, engage citizens, and leverage other public services like e-Health and e-Government. But to do that, they need things like investment, political visibility, and robust policies. Indeed you can see our complete set of recommendations here, and the full report here.

It’s a pleasure to find another positive way in which ICT – often supported by EU research funds – is helping in the developing world.

Number of views: 3546

Tags: AfricaConnect, Broadband and Science, Broadband Commission, Development, Digital Agenda, European Commission, Geneva, Millennium Development Goals, Neelie Kroes, RedClara, Science, UN