New technologies hold the promise of tackling the most pressing needs of human development: vaccines for HIV and malaria, drought-resistant seeds for sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable energy sources for the 2 billion people who have no access to electricity and accessible information technologies for people currently marginalized by the digital divide. The Human Development Report 2001 explores the evolving and complex trends of how technology is shaped, created and owned and proposes bold new ideas for ensuring that the needs of the world's poor people are not left on the sidelines. New technologies hold the promise of tackling the most pressing needs of human development: vaccines for HIV and malaria, drought-resistant seeds for sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable energy sources for the 2 billion people who have no access to electricity and accessible information technologies for people currently marginalized by the digital divide. The Human Development Report 2001 explores the evolving and complex trends of how technology is shaped, created and owned and proposes bold new ideas for ensuring that the needs of the world's poor people are not left on the sidelines.