DEEPENING U.S. PAKISTAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003036

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON TBIO PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: DEEPENING U.S. PAKISTAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION


1. (SBU) Summary: The first U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology
Conference was held in Islamabad August 25 to 28, bringing together
research scientists from the U.S. and Pakistan who have worked on
projects funded by the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology
Cooperation Agreement. Under the 2003 agreement, 49 projects have
been jointly funded by the U.S. and Pakistan at a combined cost of
USD 17.9 million. Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology Adviser
to the Secretary and USAID Administrator, led the U.S. delegation to
the conference and met separately with Government of Pakistan (GOP)
officials. Multiple GOP ministries expressed interest in increasing
science and technology (S&T) linkages with the U.S., including
participating in the upcoming fourth round of S&T project selections.
End Summary.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
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2. (SBU) The U.S.-Pakistan Joint Agreement on Science and Technology
Cooperation was signed in 2003. The agreement was designed to create
linkages between U.S. and Pakistani public and private science and
technology institutes and to build capacity within the Pakistani
scientific community to positively impact Pakistani society through
science and technology projects. During President Bush's March 2006
visit to Pakistan, science and technology was included as one of the
four pillars of the Strategic Dialogue. A high-level committee was
established, co-chaired by Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the U.S.
National Science Foundation, and Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, head of
Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) to further this
dialogue. There are currently sixteen working groups under the
committee, designed to bring experts in multiple fields together to
promote linkages and propose joint projects. In 2006, the Government
of Pakistan (GOP) submitted a series of projects totaling USD 1.3
billion for the consideration of the committee. Due to U.S. funding
constraints, little to no action was taken on many of the high-price
Pakistani proposals.


3. (SBU) A separate joint fund between the U.S. and Pakistan was
established under the agreement to provide funding for collaborative
projects between U.S. and Pakistani scientists. Under the program,
researchers from U.S. institutions partner with their Pakistani
counterparts on research projects of mutual benefit to both
countries. Since 2004, 49 projects have been jointly funded by the
U.S. and Pakistan at a combined cost of USD 17.9 million. The U.S.
has contributed USD 6.9 million to these projects and the GOP, USD 11
million. Starting with the second round, U.S. funding was provided by
USAID via the U.S. National Academies of Science, which also provided
peer review and project oversight.


4. (SBU) The third round ends USAID's formal commitment to the
process. Starting during the 2008 third round, State's Biosecurity
Engagement Program (BEP),under the Bureau of International Security
and Nonproliferation's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction
(ISN/CTR),provided additional funding to the program. BEP
contributed USD 1.2 million for projects in 2008 and has allocated up
to USD 5 million for the fourth round of projects, slated to be
selected in 2009. In support of BEP program objectives, a special
call for proposals related to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity
will be included in the fourth round. Despite its formal departure
from the program, USAID has committed USD 1 million to the upcoming
fourth round of project selections if the GOP contributes matching
U.S. funding. Recognizing that current economic conditions may
impact the GOP's ability to fully fund future joint projects, USAID
has committed its funding as an added incentive to entice the GOP to
fully match U.S. funding. USAID views its pledged USD 1 million
support as a way to help the Ministry of Science and Technology and
Higher Education Commission argue for and justify making a
contribution to the partnership.


5. (SBU) Despite limited U.S. resources available for S&T
cooperation, the Department has been able to include programs funded
from other sources under the umbrella of the S&T Agreement. BEP
funding, estimated at around USD 8 million in fiscal year 2008 and an
estimated USD 12 million in fiscal year 2009, is included in this
category. In addition, the Department has defined State Economic
Bureau's pilot telemedicine project and a proposed U.S. Geological
Survey and Naval Research Lab geophysical survey as part of expanded
U.S.-Pakistan science and technology cooperation.

2008 U.S.-PAKISTAN S&T CONFERENCE
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6. (SBU) The first U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology Conference

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was held in Islamabad August 25 to 28, bringing together research
scientists from the U.S. and Pakistan to present their work and
identify future partnerships and linkages. The conference marked the
first time that many of the collaborators had met in person to
discuss their research. Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology
Adviser to the Secretary of State and to the USAID Administrator led
the U.S. delegation and keynoted the conference. Stressing the
importance of education and research, Dr. Fedoroff opined that
science will be essential to address the myriad global environmental,
health and energy issues facing the planet today.


7. (SBU) While in Islamabad, Dr. Fedoroff met with GOP officials to
discuss the future of U.S.-Pakistan science and technology
cooperation. Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Secretary
Sharif Ahmed described scientific research as the "most vital area of
Pakistan's economic development" and called for future partnerships
to focus on the commercial aspects of research and development.
Ahmed described energy and agriculture as Pakistan's two most
pressing needs, urging greater collaboration between U.S. research
and development entities, including multinational corporations, and
their Pakistani counterparts. He highlighted technology transfer as
key to any future commercial science partnerships. MOST officials
are eager to continue their participation in the U.S.-Pakistan S&T
Agreement and requested expanded biosecurity and bioengagement
cooperation with State's Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) to
strengthen laboratory infrastructure.


8. (SBU) In an August 27 meeting with Ministry of Environment
officials, Additional Secretary Ishtaik Ahmed Khan reported that the
GOP wants U.S. assistance and expertise, particularly in the field of
biotechnology and the formulation of regulations for genetically
modified organisms. Khan stated that there are many GOP concerns
with respect to health, environment and science, all of which could
benefit from U.S experience and support. However, the GOP, and
Ministry of Environment in particular, lacks the resources and
expertise to adequately address these challenges. The Ministry is
also eager to promote projects related to clean water resources,
toxic and industrial waste management, energy conservation and forest
management. Additional Secretary Khan would like to work with the
U.S. to advance Pakistan's environmental needs and is eager for the
Ministry's research and development proposals to be included among
the next round of U.S.-Pakistan S&T projects.


9. (SBU) Higher Education Chairman Atta-ur-Rahman, who also serves as
co-chair of the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology Committee,
expressed interest in broadening the U.S.-Pakistan S&T agreement to
support educational capacity development, including vocational
training and the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation. In an
August 26 meeting with Dr. Fedoroff, Dr. Rahman requested greater
U.S. assistance in upgrading Pakistan's research and development
(R&D) agencies through institutional linkages, financial aid and
training. Overall, Dr. Rahman was interested in gaining U.S. support
for activities that encourage economic growth and asked that U.S.
funding for the U.S.-Pakistan S&T Agreement be augmented and utilize
both BEP and USAID funding.

COMMENT
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10. (SBU) Our interlocutors are unanimous in their desire for
expanded science and technology cooperation with the U.S. They
believe U.S. expertise is the best way to address the myriad of
health, agricultural, environmental and biosafety challenges facing
Pakistan. The nature of our S&T interaction has been collaborative
thus far; Pakistani financial support to the joint projects has
exceeded U.S. support. Our GOP partners continue to be disappointed
with the level of U.S. participation and would like greater financial
support. The 2003 Science and Technology Agreement was designed as
an umbrella under which multiple U.S. agencies could collaborate with
their Pakistani counterparts on a wide range of projects. To date,
S&T cooperation is limited to include only the three rounds of
jointly funded projects and a handful of independent projects pulled
under the umbrella of the joint agreement. Funding from State's
Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) is beneficial to the overall
level of S&T cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan and has
prolonged the life of the S&T joint projects. However, BEP cannot be
the only source of support. Additional funding and technical
capacity from a wide range of U.S. agencies that work on fields
related to science and technology are needed to ensure the continuity
of this "bright spot" in the bilateral relationship. End Comment.


11. (U) This message has been cleared by the Office of the Science

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and Technology Adviser and by ISN/CTR.

PATTERSON