Network for the exchange of technological information and the industrial and technological information bank.

32. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE*
178. Network for the exchange of technological information and the industrial and technological information bank

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic co-operation, Further recalling the Lima Declaration and Plan of Action on Industrial Development and Co-operation,[1] adopted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization at its Second General Conference, held at Lima from 12 to 26 March 1975, Taking into account resolutions 87 (IV), 88 (IV) and 89 (IV) of 30 May 1976 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development[2] concerning strengthening the technological capacity of the developing countries, Further taking into account General Assembly resolutions 3507 (XXX) of 15 December 1975 and 31/183 of 21 December 1976 and Industrial Development Board decision V (XI) of 6 June 1977 regarding institutional arrangements in the transfer of technology,[3] Recalling paragraph 1 of its resolution 31/183, 'in which it reaffirmed the importance of wider dissemination of scientific and technological information for the purpose of allowing developing countries access to research findings that they considered to be of interest as well as project experience of other developing countries, thus permitting the selection of technologies essential for their industrial growth and promoting the development of their own technological capacity, Reaffirming the need for the improvement and strengthening of national capacities of developing countries for access to, collection, storage, analysis and dissemination of technological and related information, in order, inter alia, to make the proposed network fully effective,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the establishment of a network for the exchange of technological information[4] and the note by the Secretary-General concerning the patent information system,[5] prepared in response to General Assembly resolution 3507 (XXX), and expresses its thanks to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Information Exchange and the Transfer of Technology and to the World Intellectual Property Organization;

2. Welcomes the progress achieved thus far in determining the shape of a technological information network, useful to all countries, in particular developing countries, in studying regional and national capacities and needs in technological information, particularly in the publication of a pilot user-oriented directory of information services of the United Nations system;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the preparatory studies and assessments of existing information networks already undertaken;

4. Further requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the regional commissions, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, as well as with the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other specialized agencies concerned, to develop alternatives for further work on the network, including time schedules, costs and user-oriented operational suggestions, together with suggestions on sectors and/or subject areas where there is a particular requirement for an international information network, using the best possible experience in the fields of identification of user needs, information exchange and the transfer of technology;

5. Requests the Administrative Committee on Coordination, in view of the fruitful collaboration developed by the Inter-Agency Task Force among agencies of the United Nations system on measures undertaken thus far in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 31/183, to make appropriate arrangements to continue such support and co-ordination during the period of study envisaged under paragraphs 3 and 4 above;

6. Reaffirms that all countries, particularly developed countries, should take measures as a matter of high priority to improve the availability and quality of the technological information, including advanced technologies, needed to assist developing countries in the selection of technologies relevant to their needs;

7. Urges the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Executive Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the heads of other relevant agencies to continue their efforts to assist developing countries in establishing centres for the transfer and development of technology at the national and regional levels and in providing extension services, and, in this context, to bear in mind the possibilities of the network concept;

8. Endorses Industrial Development Board decision V (XI) regarding the pilot operation of an industrial and technological information bank;

9. Recommends that work on the network, as well as on the bank, should take into account their interrelationship and also the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-third session, through the Economic and Social Council, a progress report on the work requested in the present resolution, with a view to submitting a final report to the Assembly at its thirty-fourth session.

107th plenary meeting
19 December 1977

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[1] See A/10112, chap. IV. [2] See Proceedings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Fourth Session, vol. I, Report and Annexes (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.76.II.D.10 and corrigendum), part one, sect. A. [3] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/32/16), annex I. [4] E/6055. [5] E/6054.