The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a unique forum where the governments of 30 market democracies come together to address the economic, social and governance challenges of the globalising world economy, as well as to exploit its opportunities.
The Organisation has been actively involved in biotechnology for more than 20 years.
Advances in biotechnology are contributing to economic growth across a number of industry sectors such as healthcare and, agriculture in countries throughout the world. Unfortunately, many of the developments in the biosciences - materials and technologies - that underpin these advances are open to abuse.
The same tools and knowledge bases that have greatly contributed to improvements in human health, quality of life and economic growth, can also be used to produce harmful agents for destructive purposes, threatening life, destabilising the security of societies, wreaking economic damage through livestock and crop destruction and ultimately undermining global confidence in a country as a place of growth and prosperity.
Nevertheless, excellence in scientific research depends on open interactions among researchers. The flow of scientific data, methodologies and access to biological resources are vital to the continued progress of science and hence to the practical benefits for society as a whole that this brings.
The role of responsible stewardship in helping to achieve a balance between scientific freedom and security concerns was one of the themes raised at a meeting of OECD Science Ministers in January 2004.
In September 2004 the International Futures Programme (IFP) of the OECD brought together 55 selected participants from industry, academia, public research organisations, scientific societies, the science publishing field and government in Frascati, Italy to discuss promoting responsible stewardship in the biosciences and avoiding the potential abuse of research and resources. Following this meeting, the IFP has developed a follow up programme on biosecurity as outlined in the Chairman's Summary, which has led to the creation of this website.
Copyright © 2008 - 2009 OECD International Futures Programme
