AREAS OF CONCERN 



One constructive effect of preparations for the 

 1979 Conference is that the U.S. government has begun a 

 systematic review of what it can do to improve the U.S. 

 scientific and technological contributions to 

 development. This report, designed to assist those 

 preparations, proposes initiatives that could be 

 components of such a program. 



These initiatives were selected from a much larger 

 list considered by our panels. Most involve additional 

 actions of types already undertaken or actions that 

 have already been discussed elsewhere. We have sought 

 to provide the U.S. government with a wide range of 

 initiatives , each of which would have a strong positive 

 impact on development. From these, the government can 

 select those it wishes to pursue in the context of the 

 1979 Conference. 



In our search for initiatives, we have kept several 

 factors in mind: (1) the needs and priorities of 

 developing countries, as we understand them; (2) their 

 special concerns, including the desire for self- 

 reliance and greater autonomy in the management of 

 their affairs; (3) potential mechanisms for 

 transferring and adapting foreign technology to 

 conditions found in developing countries; and (4) ways 

 to help developing nations both draw on world science 

 and technology in devising answers to their own 

 problems and contribute to the world experience used by 

 all countries. 



Once the U.S. government selects those initiatives 

 it is best able to pursue, and how far, in light of 

 financial and other feasibility factors, it will need 

 to work out the particulars that will make them into 

 operational proposals. Our Committee was not in a 

 position to do this, but we note that the initiatives 

 vary greatly in their cost implications. Many 

 suggestions would call mainly for adjustments in policy 

 and orientation of existing activities. Others would 

 require substantial additional public appropriations, 

 the magnitude of which can be varied. The 

 Administration has expressed its desire to increase 

 substantially the U.S. development assistance program, 

 and we believe that this list of initiatives provides 

 many opportunities to put such funds to good use. 

 However, we note that the total list is very extensive, 

 so that selection to hold within feasible cost limits 

 will be essential. 



We note that the phrase "developing country" is 

 inexact. Each country has unique scientific, 

 technological, and development needs. Moreover, 

 developing countries are showing a growing interest in 

 interregional cooperation. Thus the United states must 



