Staff Reporter
Acknowledging the important contribution of science, technology and innovation (STI) in addressing societal concerns, the South African government continues to make significant investments in STI.
The Acting Director-General of Science and Innovation, Mr Daan du Toit, emphasised the government’s stance at a roundtable on STI policy perspectives during a recent workshop.
The workshop was held at the South African Embassy in Brussels alongside the 4th AERAP Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum. AERAP, the Africa-Europe Radio Astronomy Platform, has a strong relationship with the South African Department of Science and Innovation.
The Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum, highlighted the critical role of science and digital innovation in defining European Union (EU) policies towards Africa, and of placing African scientific leadership at the centre of these policies.
The forum encouraged deeper interaction with policymakers and the strengthening of linkages between African stakeholders and their European counterparts through strategic science and innovation partnerships.
At the roundtable, Du Toit reiterated some of the key aspects of the STI Decadal Plan, which serves as an implementation plan for the 2019 STI White Paper, stating that the plan represents a significant step towards unlocking South Africa’s innovation potential.
“Over the years, we have found common ground in our policy dialogue with the European Commission,” said Du Toit.
For instance, both Europe and South Africa are confronted with what South Africa calls the innovation chasm and Europe calls the innovation paradox – the gap between success in the basic sciences and the translation of that success into products and services with socio-economic benefits.
“So, we are introducing a wide variety of policy interventions to unlock and address the regulatory and other restrictions that limit South Africa’s potential to innovate … we have a lot of interest in how Europe is using public procurement as a tool for advancing innovation,” Du Toit added.
Du Toit considers that, for South Africa to fully harness the immense potential of STI, an inclusive, whole-of-society approach is needed, rather than the scientific community, the government and business pursuing separate goals.
Looking at the larger pan-African picture, Du Toit stated that intra-African mobility was required before success could be achieved. There is very little intra-African mobility, and it is concerning that so few South African students pursue postgraduate studies in other African countries.
“We know that the success of the European research area has been built on, among other things, European mobility, which is facilitated by the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme and other such programmes,” stated Du Toit. “Africa needs similar programmes.”
Greater intra-African trade and economic partnerships are also needed if the continent is to develop its African trade and investment agenda.
The continent’s investment in research and innovation is low, so African governments need to increase their investment in national, regional (particularly in regional economic communities) and continental programmes.
South Africa believes that the fundamental socio-economic issues it faces, such as climate change, food insecurity, disease, and inequality, demand a global response.
Du Toit believes that Africa and the EU, with their long record of successful collaboration, can overcome these challenges together.
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