The development knowledge hubs will be established in selective countries in the Asia and Pacific region as a way to support and strengthen research and disseminate new development concepts and technologies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Monday.

The ADB said in a statement released in Manila that through a technical assistance grant of 990,000 US dollars, it will set up four to six knowledge hubs in two years.

China, India and Thailand have expressed interest in being among the first to host such knowledge hubs, it said.

"There is wide understanding that the Asia and Pacific region needs to become innovative and technologically more advanced if it is to continue the high growth rates seen over the last few decades," says Dan Boom, an ADB Principal Knowledge Management Specialist.

"ADB's Asian Development Outlook 2003 identified knowledge as the most important resource in maintaining the region's competitiveness, given the rapid rate of change created by globalization and technological innovation," he noted.

The ADB said that about four to six organizations and institutions will be tapped to serve as knowledge hubs or centers of excellence on emerging development topics, such as clean development mechanism, use of compressed natural gas and hybrid technologies in the transport sector, renewable energy, environmental technology, information and communications technology, as well as management techniques.

To ensure high synergy and knowledge sharing, these knowledge hubs will be linked with each other, as well as with relevant national organizations, it said.

Moreover, they will be linked to international academic and research organizations to improve their access and capacity to learn and adapt the latest international development concepts to regional or local needs and demands, the bank added.

Boom said that the ADB expects the knowledge hubs to become reservoirs of expertise, providing decision makers and the development community in Asia and the Pacific with up-to-date knowledge products and services tailored to client or regional needs.

Source: Xinhua