Problem
Maldistribution of science and technology
Other Names:
Gap in scientific and technological capacityConcentration of science and technology
Incidence:
In the UK, concern has been expressed at a north-south divide in science and technology capability, with government policy favouring the south-east at the expense of the northern and regional universities. It was argued that high-tech industry favoured areas with a well-developed scientific and academic infrastructure, and so it was all the more important to maintain strong university science departments in the UK's economically depressed regions.
In most developing countries, the number of scientists and engineers per 10,000 population in the 1970s was below 50 and that of technicians below 250. In market developed countries and in the centrally planned economies the comparable ranges were 100-3000 for scientists and engineers and 250-1,000 for technicians. That developing countries accounted for about 12% of the research and development manpower and only 3% of the spending indicates also a much lower spending per researcher.
Broader Problems:
Maldistribution of resources Narrower Problems:
Technology gap between countriesInadequate research and development capacity Aggravates:
Lack of informationMaldistribution of productive capacityRestriction of outer space benefits to a limited number of countriesLack of non-governmental organization involvement in biodiversity conservation Strategies:
Strengthening scientific and technological capacityEnhancing scientific and technological researchDistributing science and technologyRestricting science and technology Subject(s):
Science → Science Societal Problems → Imbalances
Technology → Technology
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
C: Cross-sectoral problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST