Document Actions
Volume 3 - 10
| Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 10. The dawn of a new era in continental S&T initiatives
By Sibusiso Manzini  
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane at the Nepad
Conference.In the quest to revive and promote science and technology across the continent, and to map out a workable plan of action, no less than 37 countries from Africa attended the inaugural NEPAD Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology, on 6-7 November 2003 in Johannesburg. There was consensus that unless Africans address the knowledge divide that is demarcating the world into haves and have-nots, there is no way for Africa to compete in the global economy. Perhaps the single most important outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Science and Technology Plan of Action, which outlines the priorities for the continent in the coming years. It specified follow up actions and timeframes, which surprised many observers given the fact that gatherings of this nature are often short on substance and long on rhetoric. The conference took into account the resource and capacity constraints prevailing in the continent and decided to limit the Plan of Action to 12 flagship programmes in key areas, and to concentrate its effort and resources on these. The 12 flagship programmes involve the strengthening of research and development in the following areas: biodiversity, biotechnology, ICT, energy, materials, space, post harvest, water, IKS, desertification, manufacturing and laser technology. As cross-cutting themes underlying the development of the flagship programmes, the plan envisages the creation of networks of centres of excellence - and the establishment of innovation hubs. The arrangement demonstrates the intention to align scientific research and technological development with the collaboracontinent’s wider social and economic development programmes. And it also takes account of the need for the development of human resources at all levels in basic sciences, mathematics and engineering, with special emphasis on women and the youth. 
Left to Right: Prof. Folarin Osotimehin (UNESCO), Dr A Maduekwe
(UNESCO) and Dr W Dereje from Ethiopia In his well-received keynote address, former Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr. Ben Ngubane emphasized the need to reorient Africa’s R&D policies to stress the critical role of innovation in addressing socio-economic needs of the continent. He observed that multi-stakeholder cooperation, involving government, big and small business, institutions of research and learning, non-governmental formations, civil society and international development agencies were essential to effectively "unleash the benefits of scientific knowledge and innovation" in Africa. The continent is eager to make headway in the implementation of the new initiative, as was demonstrated when the African Laser Centre (ALC) was launched during the conference with a dazzling display of laser applications. The ALC is a virtual network of laser research centres on the continent. The centres collaborate on research activities, with special emphasis on applications conducive to improving the quality of life.  Dr P Dufour, IDRC, Canada and Dr B Tema,
General Manager, International Cooperation,DST at Nepad Conference.
The African ministers present also expressed solidarity with South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, (see page 9), and adopted a declaration to that effect. The ministerial conference concluded with the inauguration of the NEPAD Ministerial Council comprising all those African ministers responsible for S&T, and the Steering Committee on S&T, which consists of two representatives from each of the continent’s five regions, at the level of Director-General. The Steering Committee had its first meeting, in Pretoria at the end of January 2004, and following the adoption of an agreed Plan of Action, work has begun on delivering a detailed business plan before the year’s end. In terms of the work plan, there will be heightened activity at regional and national level, involving needs and capacity-assessment studies, together with regional workshops, in order to fine-tune the Plan of Action. Regional coordinators will be responsible for driving broad policy through each of the continent’s five regions. |
Nominations of potential candidates for the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Board of Directors
