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SA aims to set new innovation agenda as Draft White Paper is released

21st September 2018

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The Presidency is to lead a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) “plenary meeting” involving major sectors of the South African government and society, Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane told the media at the recent launch of the Department of Science and Technology’s Draft White Paper on STI (which is intended to replace the original White Paper on Science and Technology, adopted in 1996). She did not give any date for the meeting.

“South Africa needs to set its innovation agenda at the highest level of government and business so that all actors pursue the same objectives and pool resources where possible,” she said. “The Presidency will therefore chair an STI plenary meeting, involving business leaders, academic experts in the field of STI, government departments that have a focus on STI and leaders from civil society. Among other matters, the STI plenary will discuss STI priorities.”

The government also plans to set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee on STI, to be chaired by the Minister of Science and Technology. This will serve to ensure that STI programmes are properly funded and that STI will be integrated into the planning of the relevant government departments. The National Advisory Council on Innovation will be strengthened so that it can supply the requisite data on, and analysis of, STI enablers and progress.

“The new document (White Paper) will ensure a growing role for STI in building a more prosperous and inclusive society,” she assured. “It focuses on using STI to accelerate inclusive economic growth, make the economy more competitive and improve people’s everyday lives.”

She reported that there had been good progress in implementing the 1996 White Paper, but that the country had not benefited fully from the potential afforded by STI to fufil the aims of the National Development Plan. She cited the “institutional landscape” as an example. While it had grown, while the number of publications had increased threefold, while the numbers of black and women researchers had increased significantly and PhD graduation rates had increased, “challenges remain, and the national system of innovation is still not fully inclusive”.

Moreover, the world had changed since 1996. There was now the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which was swiftly changing human interactions, transactions and learning. Automation and digitialisation were increasing. A new policy document was needed to allow South Africa to participate effectively in this new world.

“The new draft policy focuses on two main goals, namely to ensure that South Africa benefits from STI for economic growth, social development and transformation, and to respond to the risk and opportunities brought by rapid global technological advancement and other global challenges,” explained Kubayi-Ngubane. “The new draft White Paper has considered a number of megatrends spanning the geopolitical, economic, social, technological and environmental spheres. These megatrends include a growing population, increased consumption driven by an expanding middle class in emerging economies, the rise of China and India, and the impact on the natural environment.”

These megatrends are creating opportunities. The growing middle classes in emerging markets and the large proportion of young people in Africa are creating markets and so stimulating manufacturing and creating jobs, especially in the information and communication technology (ICT) services sector.

Swift technological change is transforming the world, blurring the lines between biological, digital and physical systems. Advances in artificial intelligence and ICT will change how society and the economy work. “STI lies at the heart of the preparation for this emerging future, and South Africa therefore needs to build on progress in areas such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, ICT research and innovation,” she stressed. “This White Paper proposes policy interventions to accelerate skills development, leverage ICT, commit to openness, and support inter- and transdisciplinary research. It also puts into place mechanisms to institutionalise foresight capacity to assist collaborative planning across government for STI.”

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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