Posted on October 31, 2011

Gates Foundation, Chinese Government Partner to Address Global Development Needs

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a partnership with the Chinese government's ministry of science and technology in support of the research, development, and manufacturing of new and innovative products for global health and agriculture.

The foundation and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) recently signed a memorandum of understanding affirming their commitment to focus on innovations that help meet the needs of developing countries and advance progress toward the Millennium Development Goals. As part of the agreement, MOST and the foundation will work together to identify and co-fund projects that promote the development of new global health products, conduct research and development targeting improved agricultural inputs, support low-cost manufacturing of health and agricultural products, and develop information technology for rural areas and agricultural and health applications.

As part of the agreement, a joint committee will be established through which MOST and the Gates Foundation will identify projects with the potential for joint funding. Each project must broadly promote new data and information to the scientific and development committees and ensure that its products benefit the people most in need in developing and resource-constrained countries.

"This partnership demonstrates the critical role that rapidly growing countries like China can play in driving innovation to reduce hunger and poverty," said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. "China's support to bring its power and capacity to bear on global health and agriculture research and production comes at a critical time in our world economic situation."