Catalyzing inclusive growth in Africa through a network of innovation agencies

 

Although a handful of countries have advanced significantly in promoting innovation through avenues such as technology parks, incubators, and by attracting venture capital to innovative start-ups, the majority of African nations still lag substantially behind other regions in all aspects of innovation performance. More importantly, they face several systemic and structural challenges that hinder the effective harnessing of innovation for economic and social development. As a result, the region’s overall innovation ecosystem remains fragmented.

There continues to be very little private sector research and development spending, limited opportunities for technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, and a lack of collaboration between universities and firms. Doubts remain as to how effective — and inclusive — many public agencies’ innovation support programs have been. This is particularly important given a history of technology development that has often exacerbated inequalities in Africa.

This initiative will support the establishment of a network of innovation agencies across Africa aimed at strengthening national and regional innovation ecosystems, promoting cross-border collaborations, and empowering agencies to champion and implement transformative innovation policies. Activities include targeted training programs and peer learning, enabling the trainees to act as catalysts in their respective national and regional contexts. The network will provide seed funding for collaborative projects, support policy experimentation, and engage with underrepresented groups in African innovation systems to ensure that the benefits of innovation are equitably distributed.