# ECO Science Foundation

ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) is an intergovernmental organization and a specialized agency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). It was established in Islamabad, Pakistan in December 2011, with holding of the first meeting of Board of Trustees (BoT), the highest decision making body. ECOSF aims to promote scientific and technology research with an end goal to raise socio-economic standing of ten member states (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

## Objectives and Activities

The ECOSF undertakes a variety of initiatives aimed at fostering scientific excellence and technical expertise within its member countries. The main activities and objectives of ECOSF include:
* Training and Skill Development: ECOSF assesses existing training facilities and develops programs to cultivate a workforce of highly skilled professionals in scientific and technical fields within the region.
* Institutional Strengthening: The foundation designs initiatives to bolster scientific, engineering, research, and development institutions across member states.
* Technology Survey and Assessment: It conducts surveys to identify technology-related challenges faced by member countries, assesses technology needs for individual states, and facilitates technology transfer and expertise sharing.
* Research Promotion: ECOSF encourages goal-oriented research, including collaborative research programs, thematic initiatives, and actions targeting priority areas relevant to the member states. It also supports scientific projects that hold economic or commercial potential and align with the development goals of the member countries or individual researchers.
* Information Exchange: The organization facilitates the exchange of science and technology information through a network of designated centers and institutions.
* Scientific Cooperation: ECOSF strengthens scientific collaboration by fostering institutional linkages, enabling scientist exchanges, and organizing joint seminars and conferences on key science and technology topics within the member states.
* Education Enhancement: The foundation promotes advanced methods for teaching science to elevate educational outcomes.
* Publication: ECOSF publishes a quarterly scientific bulletin featuring research papers and articles from scholars in the member countries across various fields, including natural and fundamental sciences, social sciences, human sciences, medical sciences, and applied technology.
* Events and Recognition: The foundation organizes science and technology fairs and exhibitions in partnership with member states and grants awards to distinguished scientists for their contributions to science and technology in the ECO region.
* Focal Point Identification: It identifies leading science and technology organizations within the member states to serve as focal points for regional initiatives.
* Library Enhancement: ECOSF works on the enrichment of scientific and technological libraries in the member states to improve access to information.
* Intellectual Property Collaboration: The foundation emphasizes collaboration with relevant ECO and national institutions to strengthen and harmonize regional patents and intellectual property rights regimes, ensuring the protection of innovations.