Samoa's National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-27 09:16:08 |

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On February 5, 2025, Samoa achieved a historic milestone by adopting its first National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy for 2025–2029. This landmark policy positions Samoa as the first Small Island Developing State in the Pacific to establish a comprehensive framework dedicated to advancing science and technology.Despite a rich mix of national policies and strategies targeting development issues, Samoa had lacked an integrated strategy up to now for charting Samoa’s pathway towards sustainable development. 

With the adoption of the policy, this is no longer the case. The line ministries for health, environment, agriculture, education, communication technologies and so on will each have responsibility for implementing the policy in their particular area but the document’s integrated nature should also facilitate cooperation between ministries to tackle cross-cutting issues such as climate change or the need to green the economy. Moreover, in order to ensure that the policy is adequately funded, the Ministry of Finance will be involved in policy implementation. A National Science, Technology and Innovation Committee will be established under the policy to coordinate implementation and monitoring by the different line ministries.

The policy's development was a collaborative effort supported by UNESCO, involving extensive consultations with line ministries and the National University of Samoa. It outlines strategic priorities aimed at fostering innovation, enhancing research capabilities, and integrating technology into various sectors of the economy.

By implementing this policy, Samoa aims to drive sustainable development, improve educational outcomes, and boost economic growth through technological advancement. This initiative reflects the nation's commitment to leveraging science and innovation as catalysts for progress and resilience in the face of global challenges.

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