An Overview of the African Science Technology and Innovation Indicators

(ASTII) Initiative

Prof. Luke Mumba, PhDCoordinator-ASTII

NEPAD Science Technology and Innovation Hub (NSTIH)Pretoria, South Africa

UNESCO Workshop on Surveys on STI Policy Instruments, Governing Bodies, Policies and Indicators: Harare, 7-8 November 2012

Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio)

SANBio/BioFISA MID-TERM PROGRESS

REPORT 2009-2010 SANBio Secretariat

SANBio Secretariat

CSIR Campus, Pretoria

1. CPA and ASTII

2. Genesis & Political Mandate

3. ASTII Value Proposition

4. ASTII Phase I & II: Achievements

5. Lessons Learned

6. Next steps

7. Conclusion

Outline of Presentation

1. CPA & ASTII

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• ASTII = Flagship programme within the Africa’s Science &Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA)

• CPA - adopted in 2005 by AMCOST

• CPA -framework for STI to respond to the socio-economic challenges facing the continent

in support of NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

1. CPA & ASTII Cont’d

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NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

• CPA- 2 interrelated components of ASTII

1. Development and adoption of African commonSTI indicators

2. Establishment of the African Observatory for Science technology and innovation (AOSTI)

1. Project 1.

2. GENESIS & Political Mandate

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• Nov 2003 – African countries endorsed the compilation of indicators for STI

• Sept 2005-African Intergovernmental Committee on ASTII

• Nov 2007-ASTII Roadmap presented to AMCOST

• 2009-ASTII established as one of the working frameworks between NEPAD and AUC

1. Project 1.

3. ASTII Value Proposition

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NEPADGoal and AU vision and priorities.

• Goal: To contribute to improving the quality of STI policiesat national, regional and continental levels by strengthening Africa’s capacity to developand use STI indicators

• Aim: To Support evidence-based policy making that address Africa’s development challenges in STI

3.1 Specific Objectives

1.To develop and cause the adoption of internationally

comparable STI indicators

2. To build human and institutional capacities for

developing and using STI indicators, as well as

conducting related surveys

3. To inform African countries on the state of STI on the

continent

3.3 R & D Indicators

�Gross Domestic Expenditure on R & D (GERD)

�R & D personnel: by level of education, by occupation,

by gender, headcount, Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

�Researchers: gender, field of study/research

�Outputs: publications, patents, etc.

3.4 Innovation Indicators

�Product innovation

�Process innovation

�Innovation activities and expenditure

�Sources of information for innovation activities

�Factors hampering innovation

�Intellectual Property Rights

4. ASTII Phase 1: 2007-2010

• Participating countries conducted R&D and Innovation surveys

• The outcome of these surveys have been captured in the inaugural edition of the African Innovation Outlook, (AIO-2010).

• AIO-2010 – 1st in a series, intended to provide information about STI activities and the state of STI in African countries

1. Algeria,2. Angola 3. Burkina Faso4. Cameroon5. Egypt 6. Ethiopia7. Gabon8. Ghana 9. Kenya 10. Lesotho 11. Malawi12. Mali 13. Mozambique14. Nigeria15. Senegal16. South Africa17. Tanzania 18. Uganda 19. Zambia

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4.1 ASTII Phase 1 Countries-pilot phase

4.2 ASTII Phase II 2011-2013

• Phase II launched May 2011 in Addis-Ababa

• The following 9 countries have joined

• Phase I + Phase 2 = 28 countries (52%)

1. Cape Verde2. Equatorial Guinea3. Liberia4. Mauritius5. Namibia6. Niger7. Togo8. Tunisia9. Zimbabwe

4.3 Significance of the ASTII

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• How much of a country’s (financial) resources are devoted to R & D?

• How are the resources allocated among different sectors?

• Are the available human resources sufficiently qualified

• What is the share of foreign funding in R & D Activities

These questions and others have been answered in the AIO-2010in support of NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

4.4 ASTII Achievements1. Establishment of an intergovernmental committee

to be the overall governance structure

2. Establishment of national focal points to spearhead the production of STI indicators at country level in 28 countries

3. Budget lines for ASTII have been established at country level in some countries

4. Harmonized instruments for survey methodology have been adopted

5. More than 80 expertshave been trained in R & D and innovation survey methodology

ASTII Achievements Cont’d6. Contribution to the establishment of the African

Observatory for STI (AOSTI) in Equatorial Guinea:

AOSTI - Ultimate continental repository for STI

statistics and a resource of policy analysis in support

of evidence-based policy making in Africa

7. Release of the inaugural edition of the African Innovation Outlook (AIO) Report in 2011- at least 1000 print copies have been disseminated and the Outlook is also available for download online (Executive Summary included)

ASTII Achievements Cont’d

8. A research call launched in 2012 focusing on making the linkages between the results published in AIO-2010 and STI policies in Africa. Four proposal were selected for funding – in the process of issuing grants

5. Challenges & Lessons learned

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• Data collection and availability of data

• How to derive indicators that are sensitive to the African context?

• Cross-country analysis of data

• Survey methodology: sample size, reference period, response rate

• Context and definition of research and researchers

5. Challenges & Lessons learnedcont’d

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• How to translate the indicators into outcomes and impacts- We need to translate R&D outputs into real solutions to tackle development challenges-Relevance Question

• The question of how to use STI indicators to formulate evidence-based policy that is effective in mobilizing innovation for development? -the so what question?

in support of NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

6. Next Steps

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• Building on lessons learned from Phase 1 & 2 • Addition of more indicators• Up-scaling in Phase I & II countries• Produce AIO-2012 + beyond as a series• NEPAD/ASTII � AOSTI

- Harmonization of ASTII activities and integration in accordance withAMCOST IV Bureau Recommendation (May 2012)

in support of NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

6. Next Steps: Harmonization

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• 2012-2017 – Common Programme of Work + Sharing of Resources

• Programme1:Building STI Capacities• Programme 2:Technology Forecasting and Prospecting• Programme 3: Developing and Managing STII• Programme 4:Strengthening National Innovation

Systems (NISs)• Programme 5:Policy Studies

in support of NEPAD and AU vision and priorities.

7. Conclusion1. The measurements of STI as a support tool for policy

formulation and implementation have opened areas for further research and debate;

2. Participating countries are collaborating on STI matters and building a community of practice which will ensure that Africa speaks with one voice;

3. ASTII Initiative will continue through AOSTI with the work of: - facilitating the development of human capacity to collect, analyze and use STI data and indicators;

- Producing the next editions of AIO series;

- Stimulating research and policy debate around STI

“If others are walking, we must run. It can done,

play your part” Mwalimu Julius Nyerere

www.nepadst.org/sanbio

Thank you, Merci, Sukran, Obrigado, Kiitos, Asante,

Zikomo, Tatenda! Enkosi! Dankie!

www.nepadst.org/sanbio