Putting Africa First The Making of African Innovation Systems

by Muchie, Mammo; Gammeltoft, Peter; Lundvall, Bengt-Ake; Freeman, Chris

• ISBN13: 9788773077092
• ISBN10: 8773077097
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-16
• Publisher: Aalborg University Press

Summary

The expression 'national systems of innovation' was introduced in the 1980s to emphasize the interdependence between technical and institutional change. For many reasons, the work on Africa is especially important. The prevalence and persistence of conflict, poverty and poor governance on the African continent is widely considered to be the most urgent global development issue today. This volume brings together a selection of original contributions, which analyze African economic issues within the theoretical framework of 'innovation systems'. With its combination of conceptual, policy oriented, empirical, and cross-regional analyses the book should appeal to scholars, policy makers, and development practitioners along with other students of economic affairs.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. v
List of abbreviations	p. xi
List of contributors	p. xiii
Foreword	p. xv
Introduction: African Systems of Innovation and Competence Building	p. 1
Conceptual Specification and Framework Setting
National Systems of Innovation and Economic Development	p. 13
The Dynamics of Catching Up: The Relevance of an Innovation System Approach in Africa	p. 29
Re-thinking Africa's Development through the National Innovation System	p. 43
What is Innovation Policy All About?	p. 63
Adapting the Innovation System Concept to African Development
African Systems of Innovation: Towards an Interpretation of the Development Experience	p. 75
Human Capital and Systems of Innovation in African Development	p. 93
Impact of Social Ties on Innovation and Learning in the African Context	p. 109
Changing the Outlook: Explicating the Indigenous Systems of Innovation in Tanzania	p. 123
Regional Innovation Systems and Cross-Regional Experiences
Differences in National R&D Systems between Early and Late Industrialisers	p. 141
Innovation Systems in Capacity Building in Maghreb Countries	p. 155
The Prospects for Regional Innovation System(s) Within Sub-Saharan Africa	p. 171
Innovation Systems and Endogenous Development: A Perspective of Asia for Africa	p. 185
Innovation Systems and the African State
The Role of Government in Shaping the National System of Innovation: The Case of South Africa Since 1994	p. 201
Technology, Knowledge, and Egypt's Competitiveness	p. 217
Towards an African National System of Innovation: Lessons from India	p. 233
National Innovation Systems, Development and the NEPAD	p. 247
Innovation in African Manufacturing and Services
Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Need of a National Technology System	p. 267
Barriers to and Opportunities for Innovation in Developing Countries: The Case of Ghana	p. 287
Do Services Matter for African Economic Development? An Empirical Exploration	p. 305
No Cause for Afro-pessimism: A Study of Technical Innovation in Sengerema District, Tanzania	p. 321
African Systems of Innovation: What Can We Learn From Telecommunications Firms	p. 337
Post Scriptum	p. 355
Index	p. 357
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