The international centre for genetic engineering and biotechnology

Abstract How will the developing countries best employ the advanced biotechnologies, particularly genetic engineering, to help solve their problems and further development? One mechanism to help the Third World gain the requisite capabilities is being set up by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), namely the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). Made up of two components in New Delhi, India, and Trieste, Italy, it has four major functions: to perform research of importance to the Third World; to train scientific personnel from developing countries; to be a conduit for the international transfer of scientific and technical information; and to be the focal point of a network of affiliated national and regional R&D centers. The long and tortuous process of establishing the ICGEB is described. The reasons for the actions taken are analyzed, as are the real and potential problems facing the Centre.