A/RES/56/182 Recognizing further the need for dissemination of research knowledge, technologies and expertise in the field of biotechnology, in particular in the areas of agriculture, pharmaceuticals and health care, that could benefit mankind, Welcoming the establishment of the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, which will provide overall leadership in the United Nations role in helping to formulate strategies for the development of information and communication technologies, and under whose initiative the United Nations will lend a truly global dimension to efforts to bridge the global digital divide, foster digital opportunity and thus firmly put information and communication technologies in the service of development for all, while bearing in mind the power of information and communication technologies for advancing the internationally agreed development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 1 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the coordinating role of the Commission in support of efforts by developing countries to benefit from science and technology, 2 1. Invites the Economic and Social Council to consider, no later than at its substantive session of 2002, ways and means to strengthen the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, inter alia, through increasing the frequency of its meetings, including their annualization, and through the implementation of the recommendations set out in the report of the SecretaryGeneral, 2 while taking its mandate and budgetary constraints into consideration, and in that regard takes note of the recommendation of the Commission to the Council that the Commission should meet annually; 3 2. Also invites the Economic and Social Council to consider favourably the request of the Commission to establish a working group, to meet during the regular sessions of the Commission, for the purpose of evaluating the work of the Commission, with a view to strengthening the role of the Commission in the United Nations system in the area of science and technology for development and increasing its effectiveness; 3. Stresses the importance of facilitating access to and transfer of knowledge and technology on concessional, preferential and favourable terms to the developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights and the special needs of developing countries, with the objective of enhancing their technological capacities, capabilities, productivity and competitiveness in the world market; 4. Also stresses the need for all Governments to ensure the necessary conditions, including the creation of transparent legal and regulatory frameworks, to facilitate the acquisition and development of technology, to enhance innovation capacity, to improve the absorptive capacity of local enterprises and to build up supply capabilities; 5. Further stresses the importance of identifying and tackling barriers to and unjustifiable restrictions on the transfer of technologies, in particular to developing countries, inter alia, with a view to addressing such constraints while _______________ 1 See resolution 55/2. A/56/96-E/2001/87. 3 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 11 (E/2001/31), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution III, para. 1. 2 2