Technology for mankind has been developed over a long period of time to enhance capability of people in order to overcome difficulty and improve their daily life. It might be said that while science is the search for understanding of nature, technology is the adaptation of the discovered scientific knowledge to practical use. We might wonder if science and technology can rise to the challenges of the new millennium. Scientists believe that the bio-molecular research, a strong branch of genetic engineering and biotechnology would be the answer around the year 2020.
Information technology led by the pervasiveness of the Internet is another revolution in action.
Some even believe that there is already a shift from the old economy to the new economy-or the digital economy. The Asian countries are recovering from the 1997 financial crisis. They are well aware of the economic impacts of the biotechnology and the information technology. Countries must also look at the negative sides and must try to cope with the social aspects of the technology such as the digital divide and the public perception of the genetically modified foods. Finally, international collaboration among countries in science and technology are important to share knowledge that will bring benefit to all mankind.