Technology transfer and cooperation (Articles 16 to 19)

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Understanding the importance of the issue of access to and transfer of technology for the implementation of the objectives of the convention,

Underlining the importance of developing specific approaches to technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation to address the prioritized needs of countries based on National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans’ priorities and to link technology needs assessments to National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans’ priorities, while avoiding non-specific, global approaches to this issue,

Noting the importance of guidance and initiatives to promote private sector engagement in technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation and to strengthen enabling environments for investment in Convention implementation at the national level,

Recognizing the importance of giving biodiversity a higher visibility and priority in the bi- and multilateral negotiations on scientific and technical cooperation agreements,

Emphasizing that all programme elements of the programme of work on technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation are important and complementary,

Recalling the importance of providing capacity‑building, both on human resources and infrastructure, to developing countries, in particular to the least developed among them, for the effective implementation of the programme of work on technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation, as reflected in element four of the programme of work,

1. Takes note of the progress made in implementing the programme of work on technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation as reported in the note by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/19);

2. Also takes note of the proposals on options to apply measures and mechanisms to facilitate access to and adaptation of technologies, prepared pursuant to paragraph 6 of decision VII/29 and contained in the note by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/19/Add.2);

3. Also takes note of the exploration of possibilities and mechanisms of cooperation with processes in other conventions and international organizations, prepared pursuant to paragraph 6 of decision VII/29 and contained in the note by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/19/Add.2);

4. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Technology Transfer and Scientific and Technological Cooperation with a view to collect, analyse and identify ongoing tools, mechanisms, systems and initiatives to promote the implementation of Articles 16 to 19 as well as to propose strategies for practical implementation of the programme of work on technology transfer and scientific and technical cooperation, with the mandate as set out in decision VII/9, paragraph 7;

5. Invites Parties to make submissions to the Executive Secretary on the proposals and options to apply measures and mechanisms to technology transfer and cooperation (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/19/Add.2) no later than four months prior to the meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group;

6. Requests the Executive Secretary to analyse the views submitted and to forward the results together with the proposals and the views of Parties to the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group for its work;

7. Requests the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group to annex the compilation of the views of Parties to its report to the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting;

8. Requests the Executive Secretary to invite relevant conventions and international organizations and initiatives to contribute to the work envisaged in paragraph 4 above;

Technology assessments

9. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue the compilation of pertinent information on needs assessment methodologies, and to also collect pertinent information on activity 1.2.1 of the programme of work;

Information systems

10. Invites Parties, and requests the Executive Secretary, to carry out activities for the enhancement of the clearing-house mechanism as a key mechanism in technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation;

11. Invites the Global Environmental Facility to provide financial support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of the programme of work;

12. Invites the Digital Solidarity Fund of the World Summit on the Information Society and other relevant funding mechanisms and institutions to provide financial support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, for the implementation of the activities;

Enabling environments

13. Takes note of the progress made in the preparation of a technical study that further explores and analyses the role of intellectual property rights in technology transfer in the context of the Convention, and invites the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant organizations, and requests the Executive Secretary, to finalize the study, in accordance with activity 3.1.1 of the programme of work (“Preparation of technical studies that further explore and analyse the role of intellectual property rights in technology transfer in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and identify potential options to increase synergy and overcome barriers to technology transfer and cooperation, consistent with paragraph 44 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. The benefits as well as the costs of intellectual property rights should be fully taken into account”);

14. Invites relevant international organization to continue their activities for building or strengthening the capacities of developing countries for the effective transfer and adaptation of technologies of relevance to the Convention, including through the training of staff at all levels as well as the enhancement of technical and institutional capacity, noting that such training could also include the retrieval of patent documents as a source of technological information;