Scientists and technologists in developing nations have limited access to recent research findings (mostly in journals), to reference materials (mostly in libraries elsewhere), and to databases (some of which are proprietary); and these problems have been exacerbated over the past decade as information streams turned into torrents. The enormous advances in information and communications technology have opened up opportunities for remedying the situation as never before, though these same advances have also raised issues of intellectual property rights. The Study Panel nevertheless believes that the proper harnessing of digital technologies is essential to S&T capacity building in the developing nations, which should make major efforts to provide adequate infrastructure and trained technical personnel in information and communications technology for their learning and research institutions. (See Boxes 30 and 31 for descriptions of two new efforts to provide S&T information and publications to developing nations.)

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