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DS 113 Science Technology and Innovation For Development
DS 113 Science Technology and Innovation For Development
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Lecture One: Outline
• Conceptual issues: Definition of key concepts:
Science, Technology and Innovation
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Sources of Innovation Cont…
• Therefore:
Innovation comes from the push side i.e. the R&D
that produce knowledge, financial institutions,
infrastructure, policies/incentives etc. (anything
that pushes innovators-that facilitate the
generation, diffusion and use)
Also it comes from the users (demand sides)-
necessity can trigger innovation-what is
demanded in the society can trigger innovation
(foot operated hand washing machines)
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Innovation System
• Innovations are initiated, diffused and utilized within
the innovation system.
• It refers to the network of actors (public and private
institutions) whose interactions generate, diffuse and
utilize new products, processes/methods (innovations)
• Actors interact to bring together the inputs needed to
generate, diffuse and use-technical, commercial
(market), administrative, financial, infrastructure,
competencies and other inputs for innovation.
• The government is the main actor in the innovation
system – it facilitates the innovation process.
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The Role of the Government in Innovation
• Supporting innovators through appropriate
incentives/motivations and other mechanism.
• Promoting infrastructures (transport, power & water)
• Removing various obstacles to innovative initiatives-
tax, laws, regulation, bureaucracy, power etc.
• Establishing responsive R&D institutions-knowledge.
• Formulation of appropriate ST&I policies
• The role of the government is like that of a gardener-
water the plants, remove weeds, apply fertilizer
(prepare the grounds for plants to grow.
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Types of innovation
• Incremental innovation: is the introduction of small
improvements or upgrades to already existing
products, services, processes or methods (a series
of small improvements to existing products,
services, methods, marketing or organizational.
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Innovation and National Development
• There is the relationship between innovation and
national development
Provision of new raw materials-plastic bottles
New methods of production-increase output
New technologies reduce cost of production and
enhance competitive advantage
New organizational strategy increases efficiency
and hence productivity
New products to the market raises the economy-
tradable goods
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Innovation and National Development Cont…
Improvement of communication
Improved access to education
Improved wellbeing due to innovation in health
Employment opportunities
Innovation is about finding new solutions to the
problems and offering opportunities of new
activities-these promote both individual and
national development.
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Conditions for Innovation to Take Place
• Innovation is the function of the following factors:
A well developed human resources with requisite
knowledge and skills-innovation use existing knowledge
Developed educational system in science, engineering
and technology
Promoting innovation culture-strategic orientation
towards innovation
Management commitment to innovation (setting aside
budget)
Well developed vocational training institutions
Proper coordination and collaboration of the various
actors involved in the innovation process
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Conditions for Innovation cont.
Enforcement of property rights-patents rights
Expenditures on R&D
Support infrastructure-Research and Development
(R&D) system, technology centers, venture capital
The right policies in place :
ST&I policies
Investment policies
Tax policies
Trade policies
STI and industrial policies
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Lessons on Innovation for LDCs (Africa)
• LDCs have the lowest level of Science, Technology and
Innovation
• LDCs need to invest in ST&I for them to reap the benefits of
ST&I in development.
• Measures/actions needed:
Innovation courses, workshops and seminars
Innovation days-for innovators to show their innovations
Motivation for innovators-innovation awards
Improve human resource base through quality S&T
education at all levels including vocational courses.
Develop the necessary infrastructures especially R&D.
Increase expenditures in R&D
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Lecture 4:Science, Technology and
Innovation Policies
• ST&I are critical for promoting national development.
• Countries need ST&I to promote development
• Outline
Meaning of ST&I policies
The aims/objectives of ST&I policies
Importance of ST&I
The challenges in formulating and implementing ST&I
policies
Factors influencing successful implementation of ST&I
policies
Lessons for LDCs
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What are ST&I Policies
• ST&I policies refer to the measures or actions
undertaken by government or public agencies in
generation and utilization of ST&I knowledge for
national development.
• It also refers to the public measures and actions to
facilitate generation, acquisition, adaptation and
utilization of technological capabilities.
• NB: a policy is course of action adopted by
organizations to attain a goal. It is a statement of
intent
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What are ST&I Policies Cont…
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Importance of ST&I Policies in
Development
• Provide framework for mobilizing human and
financial resource.
• Provide framework for planning, coordinating and
monitoring of ST&I activities across sectors and
institutions.
• Setting clear and realistic priorities and targets for
R&D, that is, spell out the rate and direction in
which ST&I can be developed and utilized more
effectively and efficiently in every sector
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Challenges facing ST&I Policies in
Africa
• Poor human resource base in science, technology
and engineering.
• Low level support accorded to ST&I systems as
reflected in low expenditures in R&D.
• Underdeveloped infrastructure for ST&I system.
• Lack of political will or commitment to ST&I
despite political rhetoric.
• Uncoordinated national policies including failure to
integrate ST&I policies with other policies.
• Nonfunctional legal and regulatory framework
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Efforts to Build National ST&I Capacity
• Tanzania, like other countries in Africa and developing
world, inherited weak S&T base and there have been
efforts towards improving it.
• Recognition of the importance of S&T in national
development made the government to develop S&T
through the following efforts:
Institutional building: Faculty of Science, Technical
schools (Ifunda, Moshi), Dar technical College, Faculty
of Engineering (CoET), Faculty of Agriculture (SUA).
Establishment of National Scientific Research Council
NSRC (1968) to coordinate S&T activities.
Formulation of S&T policy in 1985-The first National
Science and Technology Policy, revised in 1996.
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Efforts to Build National ST&I Capacity Cont…
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The Basic Aim of the S&T policy of 1996
• To solve technology related problems that affect the
development process
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Efforts to build S&T capabilities cont.
• Establishment of R&D organizations such as:
Tanzania Industrial Research and Development
Organization (TIRDO)
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ST&I Policies: Lessons for Africa
• Improve environment for technology development,
adoption, adaptation and diffusion throughout the
national economy.
• Increased public support to ST&I for national
economic growth and competitiveness-invest in
education.
• Governments should double their efforts to
modernize and strengthen the nations’ workforce
and public infrastructure.
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.
• Identification of appropriate/relevant technology
for development e.g. focus on rural and agricultural
sector- what kind of technology
• Put more efforts to assist innovations –favorable
environment
• Support R&D on technology -effective
transportation & communication systems in rural
areas to diversify rural economy
• Able to improve human environment-eradicate
hunger, diseases and other problems
• To be creators /producers of technology not only
users, that is to adapt or assimilate to suite local
needs/demands
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