UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series

Industrializing Africa - a science, technology, and innovation policy perspective

Bertha Vallejo #2024-019

Despite the interest in African industrialization, sub-Saharan Africa’s path towards science, technology and innovation (STI)-led development has been slow. The underdeveloped capacity for dynamic interactions among the actors in the innovation system (i.e., firms, knowledge centers, governments, and civil society) has contributed to this slow development. Innovation capacity results from technological efforts by firms over time, but these efforts should align with the firms’ characteristics and environment. The large pool of small and medium firms in African manufacturing should be considered when designing STI policies. The context within which these policies are implemented is critical for the evolution of the innovation system and the dynamism of its actors.

Keywords: STI, Africa, manufacturing, value added, research and development (R&D), industrialization, economic growth

JEL Classification: O14, O39, O55

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