Synthesis  of BIO-EARN's Impacts: New Report Released BIO-EARN's impacts for phase II (2002-2005) have been synthesized in a newly released report. The report provides a detailed overview for each BIO-EARN network country - Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - following full completion of Phase II, together with an assessment of activities, outputs and impacts per country.  The report, by John Komen and Ivar Virgin, found that BIO-EARN strongly contributed towards achievement of its objectives in phase II. Furthermore, the authors commended the Regional Coordinators and National Focal Points for ensuring that BIO-EARN supported activities and outputs were evenly distributed across the four BIO-EARN countries. The authors conclude: 'The BIO-EARN Programme has - through human capacity building, infrastructure support, policy and networking support - been able to greatly strengthen eleven East African R&D institutions. As a result, these institutions are now better able to carry out advanced biotechnology R&D relevant to national needs. They are also, through the development of a regional interdisciplinary BIO-EARN R&D platform, better able to engage in regional and international research collaboration, which will be increasingly important to ensure sustainability, relevance, quality and impact of research efforts in the region.' This report will be extremely valuable in improving the BIO-EARN Programme’s ability to meet its future strategic objectives. The main objectives of the BIO-EARN Programme (2006-2009) are to: Capitalize on BIO-EARN Phase I and II investments in education and training by extending support for five interdisciplinary biotechnology research programs, which contribute to sustainable development in the region. Expand institutional and technical linkages of the Programme to augment strategic research efforts and to ensure that any prospective products of the research create added value for the region. Address the limiting factors for technology diffusion and dissemination by building capacity and awareness for relevant policy areas (i.e. intellectual property, innovation systems and research policy). Further Information: Synthesis of National Impact Reports for BIO-EARN Phase II (2002-2005) BIO-EARN News 30 September 2006 Go to News Archives to browse all stories