First Meeting of the African Union High Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation
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The BA hosted, on 8 and 9 August 2012, the first meeting of the African Union (AU) High Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation which guided the AU on the review process of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA).
CPA was drafted by African ministers of Science and technology in 2005 and endorsed by AU heads of states and governments in 2006, with the view to moving the continent from resource-based economies into the age of innovation-led, knowledge-based economies.
The following is a summary of emerging issues:
• The panel commended Africa’s political leaders for the high level guidance and support they are providing, through the AU, to on-going regional integration efforts and its socio-economic development programme, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The panel strongly emphasized the urgency of transforming vision into reality, and that member states and regional economic communities should take full advantage of the available political support and translate it into practical action.
• The panel observed that over the past seven years the CPA has inspired numerous national, regional and continental activities. It noted the need to ask member states and other actors to provide more detailed information on these activities to facilitate the review process.
• It stressed the need to think and act strategically about the role of science, technology and innovation and to create the necessary research and advisory institutions—especially to high level leaders—to support implementation.
• The panel discussed the importance of upgrading the continent’s human resource base and infrastructure, and adding value to natural resources as part of the transition toward the a knowledge-based economy.
• It recognized the critical role that African universities and research institutions can play as engines of economic transformation and called for a careful review of experiences around the world that can inform action in Africa. These include links with industries and businesses, business incubation and expanded entrepreneurial activities.
• In implementing the roadmap, countries and regional bodies should design creative approaches to provide incentives for action and the mobilization of financial resources.
• The panel underscored that the roadmap for STI implementation should focus on harnessing existing technologies to address specific socio-economic problems while laying the foundation for building long-term research and development (R&D) capacity through public-private collaborations and global knowledge partnerships.
• The transition toward a knowledge economy will entail complementary institutional innovation at the national, regional and continental levels. The panel noted the importance of the co-evolution of technology and institutions and the need to take into account the social dimensions of innovation.
The outcomes of this first meeting of the Panel will inform the production of an analytical report of achievements of the CPA, a revised CPA; and a roadmap and evidence-based advocacy strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Africa.
The next meeting to the Panel will be held in October 2012 in South Africa.