CGIAR Forging Ahead with Public-Private Partnerships

An innovative initiative, dubbed “Scientific and Know-How Exchange Program (SKEP)” is forging stronger ties between the CGIAR and private sector. The initiative seeks to promote technology and knowledge transfer between scientists working in the private sector and CGIAR Centers.

The new initiative is off to an excellent start. Under the umbrella of SKEP, a senior manager from Bayer CropScience AG will be spending up to six months at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), researching institutional issues and the role of food policy.

“We are delighted to host a top manager from Bayer CropScience AG,” said Joachim von Braun, Director General, IFPRI. “The SKEP initiative is helping solidify public-private partnerships in the CGIAR for the ultimate benefit of poor farmers.”

The SKEP initiative arose from discussions in the CGIAR Private Sector Committee (PSC) which serves as a link between the CGIAR and agricultural private sector organizations in industrialized and developing countries. SKEP is guided by a three-member operational management team, including one representative each from industry, CGIAR Centers (Future Harvest Alliance Office), and CGIAR Secretariat. For the first year, 4–5 exchanges are planned.

For more information and expression of interest, please email :
psc-skep@cgiar.org