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HP, UNESCO expand 'Brain Gain Initiative'

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CIOL Bureau
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GENEVA/PARIS: HP and UNESCO today announced the expansion of the ‘Brain Gain Initiative’ from five universities in the pilot phase to 15 additional higher education institutions throughout the Middle East and Africa.

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The project enables these universities to collaborate with experts around the world in innovative education and research projects with the help of advanced grid and cloud computing technologies, said a press release.

The objective is to build capacity for sustainable development through advances in science and technology with a goal of reaching 100 universities by the end of 2011 with the help of additional partners.

The expansion of the project comes on the back of a successful pilot phase in Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe from 2006 to 2009, said the release. UNESCO, together with HP, has worked with local Ministries of Education to select the 15 universities that will benefit from the expansion of the initiative in 2009.

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The Brain Gain Initiative will provide equipment, including servers for grid-enabling and cloud computing technologies, training and support, as well as operational funds to ensure each participating institution benefits fully from the opportunity.

“HP recognizes the importance of technology in boosting economic growth and providing opportunities to connect with the information society in all walks of life,” said Gabriele Zedlmayer, HP EMEA vice president, corporate marketing and global citizenship.

“We look forward to building on our work with UNESCO and our expertise in grid and cloud computing to enable more people to play an active role in all kinds of education projects, wherever they are based,” added Zedlmayer.

Said Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic, chief of the section for reform, innovation and quality assurance at UNESCO: “UNESCO signed a strategic partnership agreement with HP in 2007. As HP’s education strategy is very much in line with our education priorities it is essential that we work together to help developing countries”

One university that has already benefited from the project is Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Senegal, added the release. The university received the support of a CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) expert who helped set up the computing grid, making it the first grid in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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