UNESCO’s Remote Access to Lab Equipment (UNESRALE) Initiative

Basic Sciences, Research, Innovation and Engineering

UNESCO’s Remote Access to Lab Equipment (UNESRALE) Initiative

Bridging the scientific gap

Giving scientists in the Global South access to laboratory equipment

Gaining access to state-of-the-art laboratory equipment remains a difficult challenge for scientists in the Global South. This shortage of resources is holding science back in the countries concerned, creating a knowledge gap between North and South. Many highly skilled scientists feel compelled to seek career opportunities abroad, resulting in brain drain.

UNESCO’s “Remote Access to Lab Equipment” initiative is addressing this challenge by enabling scientists in the Global South, especially African scientists, to access sophisticated scientific equipment without leaving their home country. The scientists also receive training on how to use this equipment remotely.

Objectives

UNESCO’s remote access initiative intends to support researchers working in countries experiencing socio-economic challenges or facing conflict, who lack access to advanced research facilities for their project. This initiative is helping researchers by:

Providing remote access

to a wide range of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment

Reducing their financial burden

and reliance on outsourcing and donor funding

Fostering international collaboration and knowledge sharing

with scientists from different regions and disciplines

Enabling them to conduct experiments for both research and education,

thereby optimizing their time management and productivity

Join the Global Support Network

Support UNESCO’s remote access initiative

UNESCO

28 February 2024

UNESCO is establishing a global support network to facilitate remote access to laboratory equipment globally. This network will bring together:

contributors, who provide access to their equipment graciously,
beneficiaries, with specific needs and requirements to achieve their research,
donors, whose support catalyzes the success of this initiative.

UNESCO is seeking vital support from the global community to ensure the success of its initiative, including financial support, facilitating remote access to laboratory equipment, supporting researchers' mobility, disseminating the call for assistance, and various other contributions. This support is essential to ensure the human, logistical, and financial resources required to positively impact all regions in need.