Main description:

This book discusses African innovation from the perspective of research, development and digital progress. It highlights the trends for these activities based on empirical evidence and the author's experience in managing health and related innovations in Africa and globally. The book concludes, for the first time, that African innovation is largely driven by the principles of Social, rather than Technological innovation. The significance of this finding and the need to optimize, scale and sustain this dominant innovation is addressed in various chapters that analyze the status, challenges and opportunities. Particularly, the financing, collaboration and coordination patterns for these activities on the continent show a fragmented ecosystem that is largely dependent on external donors and aid. The importance of supportive policies, leadership and venture mechanisms that incentivizes public and private entities to innovate is further exemplified by the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book proposes mechanism to address identified challenges.

Contents:

1. Introduction: demographics, and frameworks for African led research, innovation and development.2. Landscape for research and innovation in Africa. 3. Research, invention and innovation - Social and Technological: what do they mean?. 4. ANDI and African Health Innovation.5. Human, institutional and financial resources, and partnerships.6. African Traditional Knowledge, other technologies and merging areas. 7. Technology Readiness Levels, the Valley of Death and Scaling Innovations.8. Manufacturing in Africa.9. Adopting and Adapting Innovations: Frugal, Leapfrogging and Open Innovation Approaches.10. Brain-drain, the African diaspora and Innovation in African.11. COVID-19 Pandemic, Leadership and Ownership of Innovation in Africa.