The East African Regional Programme and Research Network for
Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy Development
(BIOEARN) is strengthening research capacity in several fields
related to biotechnology and in issues related to biopolicy and
biosafety. The participating countries share a similar biodiversity
and all have to assess questions related to trade agreements,
ownership of plant material, environment, etc. The build-up of
regional research capacity and joint policy discussions related to
biotechnology are of crucial importance when decision-makers and
civil society are confronted with the growing importance of
biological resource management. Capacity building in a sandwich
model is a joint effort between Swedish universities and their
African counterparts. It means that Ph.D. students from Africa
study their own countries problems but divide their time between
their home university and a Swedish institution. The Natural
Science Council of Uganda and the Stockholm Environment Institute
(SEI) coordinate the programme.
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