The Role of ATPS in STI Policy in

Africa

Prof. Kevin Urama, Executive Director, ATPSContact e-mail: kurama@atpsnet.org

Presented at UNESCO Meeting – Dakar Senegal

� Who we are

� What we do

� How we do it

� Where we work� ATPS Phase VI Strategic Programs � Collaborative Work with UNESCO� Conclusions

Presentation Outline

A trans -disciplinary network

of researchers , private sector actors , policy

makers and civil society actors promoting the

generation, dissemination, use and mastery of

science, technology and innovation (STI) for

African development, environmental sustainability

and global inclusion.

What is ATPS?

ATPS Vision

To become the leading international centre of excellence and reference in science, technology and innovation systems research, training and

capacity building, communication and sensitization, knowledge brokerage, policy

advocacy and outreach in Africa.

ATPS Mission

To improve the quality of science, technology and innovation systems research and policy making in

Africa by strengthening capacity for science and technology knowledge generation,

communication and dissemination, use and mastery for sustainable development in Africa.

ATPS Overall Objective

To develop Africa’s STI capacity (knowledge basis & infrastructure, knowledge circulation &

networks, knowledge conditions & policies) today for sustainable African development

tomorrow.

ATPS MottoBuilding Africa’s Science, Technology and

Innovation (STI) Capacity Today for Sustainable African Development

Tomorrow .

A Call to Immediate Action

Plans on-going for establishment of chapters in India,

New-Zealand, South America, the Caribbean, and China

What we do

Core Functions:

� Knowledge Generation (Research Capacity Strengthening & Training);

� Knowledge Brokerage (Stakeholder Dialogue, Knowledge Circulation and Networking);

� Knowledge Dissemination & Outreach –(Publications, STI Journalism, Policy Advocacy);

� Knowledge Valorization – (Entrepreneurship Development, Innovation Incubation and Challenge Programs).

All ATPS programs target the quadruple helix, i.e., the Policy makers , the Private sector actors , the Civil society actors, and the Science experts , and aim at improving their capacity to put STI into use for development

ATPS Programs

Urama, 2009

“Innovation does not occur in the mainstream, but in the

interaction of actors within an innovation system”

ATPS Strategic Priorities

Research Capacity Building

Youth & Gender Empowerment

Intra-Africa Cooperation& global Partnership

Trai

ning

& S

ensi

tizat

ion

Com

mun

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ion

& S

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Out

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Pol

icy

Adv

ocac

y

Health Innovations

Research Priority Sectors, Phase VII, 2013-2017

Agriculture & Food Security

Environmental Infrastructure(Integrated mgt of Land/Soil, Water, Biodiversity, Minerals, Livelihoods)

STI GovernanceE

ntre

pren

ursh

ip &

Wea

lth C

reat

ion

for

Pov

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Re

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Clim

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& M

itiga

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Kno

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Man

agem

ent &

App

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n S

trat

egie

s (I

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AB

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(Em

ergi

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echn

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ies

& P

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Soc

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Adv

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Glo

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evel

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arad

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s (S

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n th

e

New

Gre

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cono

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Initi

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Gre

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Tech

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rans

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odel

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to L

CD

Pat

hway

s

K29

K30

K31

K32

K33

K34K35

K36K37

K38

Diapositiva 13

K29 1. Sustainable food supply & value chain management

2. Extension ServicesKEVIN, 30/05/2012

K30 1. Sustainable management of natural resources (Land/soil, water, biodiversity, Minerals, etc).

2. Land Potential Knowldge SystemKEVIN, 30/05/2012

K31 1. Low Carbon Development pathways2. Technology Transfer - address the STI content of TT models and contracts3. Renewable energy OptionsKEVIN, 30/05/2012

K32 1. Sustainable Cities - STI for efficient material use2. STI for greening industries - manufacturing industries, etc (UNIDO)KEVIN, 30/05/2012

K33 1. Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Knoweldge Protection (IP studies)

KEVIN, 31/05/2012

K34 1. Nano Dev (ongoing)2. Genetics for farming in Africa (discussion ongoing)3. Social innovations - Ongoing4. ICTs and Communication - Use of ICTs for sustainable management of resources (land, soils, etc).KEVIN, 30/05/2012

K35 STI strategies for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigations of GHGsKEVIN, 30/05/2012

K36 1. Innovation Incubationm and Entreprenurship Programs1.1 Bioresources innovation (ongoing)KEVIN, 30/05/2012

K37 1. Governance of Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development- Genetics for farming in Africa, Nanotechnologies for development, ICT, Bio-Science Innovations

2. Institutional Innovations for transitions towards 3-G Universities: Trans-disciplinarity, Systems thinking and innovation

3. STI Biennial Report

4. Develop the omnibus framework for S&T policy for the AUCKEVIN, 30/05/2012

Diapositiva 13 (continuación)

K38 1. E-Halth and M-heath - KEVIN, 31/05/2012

The Innovation Systems Frame VAC1

Diapositiva 14

VAC1 Source (Jamie Speirs, et al. 2008): Review of Current Innovation Systems Literature in teh Context of Eco-Innovation, p. 4.Valued Acer Customer, 27/04/2010

Science and Technology Base

� S&T institutions underpinning drug development and health delivery :

� Suitability of basic university education system,� Availability of Technical training required, � Basic research support systems provisioning,� Public good R&D activities to support drug

development, clinical trails, and general health delivery;

� Strategic R&D activities for improving pre-competitiveness and cutting edge technology development;

� Non-appropriable innovation support - funding in areas where private firms would otherwise not venture.

Innovation Dynamo

� The propensity to innovate which depends ontechnological opportunities faced, ability toidentify and utilize these opportunities, andstrategic management of inputs (R&D, capitalexpenditure, etc) to harness innovation opportunities.

� Strategic Decisions by Responsible Authorities and Actors

� Research & Development Investments

� Non-R&D Investments – opportunity identification, production facility development, capital investment in skills, processes and equipments, etc.

Transfer Factors

� Human, social, cultural, political factors facilitating learning and up-scaling of knowledge, indigenous & new technologies and innovations.

� Formal & Informal Linkage between firms� Presence of Experts & Technological Gate-

keepers and Receptors� International linkages or "invisible colleagues“� Degree of mobility of expert technologists or� scientists – “Brain drain or Brain Circulation”� Access to public R&D capabilities� Spin off company formation, e.g. CLINTRIAD� Ethics, Community Value Systems, Trust and

Openness� Codified knowledge in patents, specialized press

and scientific journals

Framework Conditions

� Basic educational system

� Communication infrastructure: roads, audio and data communications;

� Financial institutions: - determining the access to finance including venture capital;

� Legislative and macro-economic settings: including patent law, taxation corporate governance rules and trade policy, general enabling policy environment, etc;

Framework Conditions

� Market accessibility, including possibilities for the establishment of close relations with customers, market size and ease of access,

� Industry structure and the competitive environment, including the existence of supplier firms in complementary industry sectors.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policymaking: A Self Training

Resource Manual – UNESCO First Draft Report (ATPS/UNESCO 2009)

African Technology Policy Studies Network The Chancery, 3rd Floor, Valley RoadP. O. Box 10081-00100Nairobi, KenyaTel: +254-20-271 4098/ 168/ 498Fax: +254-20-271 4028Website: www.atpsnet.orgEmail: info@atpsnet.orgSkype address: atpsnet

African Technology Policy Studies Network

The missing link in Africa’s industrial development

effort is not resources but lack of technological

capacity to innovate and add value to products

The missing link in Africa’s industrial development

effort is not resources but lack of technological

capacity to innovate and add value to products