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Perspectives on ICT and Innovation in Africa

Hannes ToivanenVTT Organizations, Networks and Innovation Systems

Hannes.Toivanen@vtt.fi12th October 2009

http://www.vtt.fi/innovationstudies

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ICT and Innovation in Africa – Global Perspectives

The end of cost-cutting globalization;The next phase of globalization is characterized:

Search for growth markets;Creation of knowledge and innovationnetworks;

STI is poised for growth in Africa – Will thisgrowth take off?

Will Africa make it out of the shadow ofChina and India?Is Africa truly at the beginning of new growthpath?

What particular conditions Africa imposes onknowledge driven growth?What is at stake for Europe and Finland?Are we heading towards zero-sum or win-winglobalization?

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Africa – poised for growth

Most authorities forecast that population inSub-Saharan Africa is going to add about 1bnpeople by 2050;There will be growth, but what type of growth?Enormous development challenges;Are policies in place that facilitateenvironmentally and socially sustainablegrowth?;Government is key actor on all aspects ofdevelopment cf. China;The Demand: Without Science, Technologyand Innovations and ICT, the forecast growthcannot be managed adequetly;

Demand and needs at multiple fronts

Source: The Economist 27 Aug 2009

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Global Production of New Knowledge doubled in 1981-2007(new articles)

Source for this and subsequent slides: Web of Science-data

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From Bi-Polar to Multipolar World of Science:Share of Global Production New Knowledge 1981-2007

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Turning Tables: India & BrazilShare of Global Production New Knowledge 1981-2007

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The Comparative Stagnation of Sub-Saharan Africa:National Production of New Knowledge 1981-2007 (BRA, FI and selected Sub-

Saharan Countries

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But the Devil (and Growth) is in the Details:Production of New Knowledge in Sub-Sahara 2000-2008

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Doubling and more since 2000 – only Zimbabwe is on declinesProduction of New Knowledge in Sub-Sahara 2000-2008

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The Internet in Africa

Internet connection in Africamost expensive in the world

With new internationalsubmarine cables andconnectivity, rices set to fallrapidly:

Escaping the satellite basedinternet with undersea cables

Augmented with regional andnational backbones andnetworks

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Social media

Blank page today

Not even measured ina meaningful way

To be play huge rolein internet, once theinfrastructure andaccessibility problemsare addressed

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Some observations and claims

No off-the shelf solutions for innovation in Africa•Combination of poverty and high market growth envelops unknown innovation and

business dynamics;•Transfer of national or business models is of limited viability;•Emergence of Regional African Models of Innovation and Information Society

Demand and supply of innovation are prolifirating•Political framework conditions for sustained growth look good in many parts of Africa;•The infrastructure is being built• International community, including private actors, have signalled investment-fever;•Demand is levelling off due to population and economic growth;

The X-factors•How the innovation process unfolds in Africa;•Relationship between development (MDG) and innovation and ICT;•What will be the division of labour in global innovation networks?

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VTT Innovation Studies Agenda: Advance the capacity ofsocieties to adopt new technology and foster innovation

Dev. cooperation• Support in building ICT / STI

systems and environments• Support to public and

private actors and PPI-iniatives

• Policy advice, developmentand implementation:Foresight, analysis, strategydevelopment, evaluation,project management andimplementation

Strategic research• Frontier research on

globalization of innovation,emerging models ofinnovation (Africa, Brazil)

• Building knowledge base forapplied services

• Academic research: analysis,evaluation, concept & theorydevelopment on innovationand competitiveness;

Business intelligence• Development & services• Customers specified support

for innovation andbusiness development:Regional, country, industry,market, innovation levelanalysis;Foresight, analysis, strategydevelopment, user studies,networking services etc.

• Finnish Consulting Group, Finland• Global Research Alliance, SA (CSIR India, CSIR SA, SIRIM BERHARD (Malaysia) etc)• JIIP – Joint Institute of Innovation Policy (TNO (NL), Tecnalia (ES), Joanneum Research ( AT)• Univ. of São Paulo – Observatory for Innovati0n and Competitiveness (• Georgia Institute of Technology (USA)• Univ. Eduardo Mondlane (Moçambique)• Univ. Dar es Salaam, Tumaini Univ. (Tanzania)Fi

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VTT Organizations, Networks and Innovation Systems ProjectOrganization

RECENT VTT ACTIVITIES• Scoping paper: Tanzanian / Sub-Saharan ICT and Information Society Strategies. 2009• Consultancy services for Technical Assistance to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and its´

African member states on ICT development in Africa, 2009• With Finnish Consulting Group

• Consultancy services for Technical Assistance to the African Union ICT Summit, 2009-2010

Innovation studies• Over 20 specialists• Research, analysis, and

program management on allaspects of innovation andorganization

• Policy & corporate strategyand development

• Innovation & DevelopmentHub at VTT

• Create and mobilize VTTTechnical expert networks

VTT Technological fields• Scientific and technological expertise (over 2500 experts on

most technology areas)• Dedicated expert networks, e.g. ICT, built infrastructure, etc.• Planning, demonstration and feasability• Customized support teams in support of projects in Africa

External networks• Geographic coverage with leading regional experts and

institutions (currently USA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil);• Expertise covering market operations / market nexus;• Technology vendors / suppliers for large-scale projects;• Customized support teams in support of VTT projects;• Acquicisition of special skills and services

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THANK YOU!

Contact: Email. Hannes.Toivanen@vtt.fiTel. 358 40 186 3882

http://www.vtt.fi/innovationstudies