Africa needs local capacity for innovation research

Delegates at the conference

According Bitrina Diyamett , chairperson of AfricaLics and Erika Kraemer-Mbula , senior researcher at the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI), Tshwane University of Technology, building a community of innovation scholars will promote locally relevant research and policy. The endorsement of Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) — which focuses on developing scientific and research capacity by all African countries shows continent-wide recognition of the importance of science and technology.  Moreover, many African countries have increased their investment in research and development (R&D). However, such advances will continue to have limited impact on the social and economic development of the continent without efforts to increase the capacity for locally relevant research on innovation and innovation policy.