The Status of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policies in

Eastern Africa

Dr Nicholas OzorAfrican Technology Policy Studies Network

(ATPS)

First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

Outline of Presentation

• Rationale for STI policy• Status of STI Policies in eastern Africa• Institutional Capacities, Research and

Development (R&D) Activities• Achievements in STI policy in eastern Africa• Challenges in STI policy development and

implementation in eastern Africa• Strategy for Sustainable STI Policy

implementation in eastern Africa

Rationale for STI policy

• STI as driving force behind recent economic revolution in many emerging countries

• STI underpin every one of the Millennium Development Goals (UN, 2005)

• STI policy creates enabling environment for R&D, private sector investment and good governance

Status of STI and related policies in eastern AfricaCountry National STI policy Biotechnology/Biosafety

PolicyBiosafety Regulatory Regime Intellectual Property right

Burundi On-going No stand-alone bio-safety policy is available.

National Bio-safety Framework (2006). Biosafety bill (2006).

Burundian Investment Code (2009) protects all intellectual property such as patents, copyrights and trademarks

Ethiopia National STI Policy first approved in 1993, revised and approved in 2012.

National Biotechnology Policy (Draft) (2001), National Biodiversity Conservation and Research Policy (1998), Agricultural Biotechnology Policy (1993)

Bio-safety Proclamation (2009), National Bio-safety Framework (2007)

Ethiopian Intellectual Property Policy (2003),

Kenya National Science and Technology Act (1977),National STI Policy approved in January 2013

National Biotechnology Development Policy (2006),National Biotechnology and Bio-safety Policy (2007),

Regulations and Guidelines for Bio-safety and Biotechnology (1998),Bio-safety Act (2009),Bio-safety Act implementing regulations (2011),

Industrial Property Act, (2001)

Uganda National STI Policy approved in 2009,

National Biotechnology and Bio-safety Policy (2008)

Biosafety bill (2009) Laws governing IP Rights: Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act (2006), Copyrights and Neighbouring Right Regulations (2006), Patents Act (1993), Patents (Amendment) Act (2002), Patent Regulations, Trademarks Act (2010), Trade Secrets Protection Act, 2009, Industrial Property Act 2004, The National Environment Regulations, 2005(Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing)

Rwanda National STI policy (2005)

National Bio-safety Policy contained in the National Bio-safety Framework 2005.

National Bio-safety Framework, NBF, (2005),National Bio-safety Bill (2006),

Rwandan Intellectual Property Policy (2009), Intellectual Property Law (2009)

Tanzania National S&T policy (1996) National Biotechnology Policy (2009),

National Bio-safety Framework (NBF), (2005), Environmental management Act CAP 191 (2004), Biosafety regulations (2009), National Environmental Policy (1997),

No IP policy yet but there are a number of institutions engaged in IP issues such as Tanzania Intellectual Property Rights Network (TIP-Net)

Institutional Capacities, R&D Activities

4 priority areas of STI capacity and research needs

1. Knowledge generation: equipping research and academic institutions with state-of-the-art facilities for R&D

2. Knowledge acquisition: interventions through education and training in STI at all levels

Institutional Capacities...

4 priority areas of STI capacity and research needs

3.Knowledge transfer: using platforms such as technology hubs, science parks, incubation programs, etc

4.Innovation culture: inculcating an entrepreneurial, innovative culture at all levels of society, including business, the public sector, and universities.

Achievements in STI policy

• Integration of STI into National Development Plans;

• Development of Biotechnology policies, bio-safety frameworks and acts;

• Promotion of STI research programmes especially in biotechnology;

• Establishment of research centers of excellence, research universities and institutions;

• promotion of education and training in science and technology

Challenges in STI policy development and implementation in Eastern Africa

• Low level of investment• Uncertainties in the operationalization of STI

policy documents;• Limited public, private partnerships in

bioscience issues;• Lack of awareness on the potentials of modern

bio-innovation research outputs, its associated benefits and risks;

• Poor development and implementation of IP and Biosafety laws

Strategies for Sustainable STI Policy implementation in eastern Africa

• Strengthening the existing frameworks for effective implementation of the STI/Bioscience Policies

• Establishment of STI Hub• Establishment of Innovation Funds• Capacity building/strengthening at all levels• Value chain development through

entrepreneurship and extension services• Building a National System of Innovation (NSI)

Conclusion

• Most eastern African countries have National STI/Bioscience policies including biotechnology policies, biosafety policies and biosafety frameworks.

• Governments’ recognition of the role of STI in development agenda of eastern Africa countries is an important step towards the realization of economic change and sustainable development

Conclusion 2

• The successful implementation of the STI/Bioscience policies and frameworks will rely heavily on the commitment of government and stakeholders

AcknowledgementSIDA

Bio-InnovateBIPCEA Team

Thank You nozor@atpsnet.org