R&D and Innovation
Indicators: the ASTII
Experience
Dr. Towela Nyirenda Jere
Interim Manager - ASTII
NEPAD Planning and Coordinating
Agency
Second Meeting of the Committee on
Development, Information, Science and
Technology (CODIST-II)
Outline
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The CPA and ASTII
Genesis & Political mandate
ASTII - Phase 1
Lessons Learned
Next Steps
The Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA)
• Three inter-related pillars:
– Capacity building
– Knowledge Production
– Technological innovation
• Programmes in two clusters:
– Research and Development
– STI Policy (<= ASTII, AOSTI)
ASTII Genesis and Political Mandate
• Nov 2003 - African countries endorsed the
compilation of indicators for scientific research,
technological development and innovation activities
• Sept 2005 - African Intergovernmental Committee on
ASTII
• Nov. 2007 - ASTII Roadmap presented to AMCOST
• 2009 – ASTII established as one of the working
frameworks between NEPAD and AUC
The ASTII Programme
• Purpose: To strengthen Africa’s capacity to
develop and use Science, Technology and
Innovation (STI) Indicators
• Overall Goal : To contribute towards the
improvement of the quality of science,
technology and innovation policies at
national, regional and continental levels
ASTII Objectives
• To develop and cause the adoption of
internationally comparable STI indicators
• To build human and institutional capacities
for STI indicators and related surveys
• To enable African countries to participate in
international programmes for STI indicators
• To inform African countries on the state of
STI in Africa
ASTII Governance structure
AMCOST
Continental
Coordination
NEPAD
Agency
African Intergovernmental Committee
on ASTII Initiative
ASTII Faculty
National Implementation
by
ASTII National Focal Points
The National Focal Points
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Designated by National government
Cross-sectoral, inter-ministerial and multidisciplinary
Convene meetings of all relevant stakeholders
Authority to collect or cause to collect statistics
Critical mass of expertise for the development of STI
indicators
• organize training for and assemble national teams to
conduct surveys
• prepare and submit authorized national STI surveys
and/or indicators to NEPAD
The ASTII Faculty
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Dedicated STI Experts that support ASTII
Resource persons for training
On-going support to Focal Points
On-going expert guidance to NPCA
ASTII Phase 1 Countries
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Algeria,
Angola
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Egypt
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Mozambique
Nigeria
Senegal
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
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15
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ASTII Activities
• Training on: R&D and Innovation concepts,
definitions, methods of data collection
• Conducting R&D and Innovation surveys
• Production of R&D and Innovation indicators
Agreed Core R&D indicators for ASTII-1
1. Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) by
source and Sector of performance: Higher
education, Government; Business; Non-Profit
organizations; Abroad
2. R&D Personnel by level of formal qualification and
occupation, gender (headcount (HC) & full-time
equivalent (FTE):
3. Researchers by gender and field of study/research
4. Outputs: publications, patents (not core but to be
collected)
5. Country specific indicators
ASTII Phase 1 – Achievements
1. Designation of National Focal Points for implementation at
national levels
2. Adoption of Frascati & Oslo family of manuals as survey
guidelines
3. Agreement on core R&D and Innovation Indicators
4. Training of members of Focal Points
5. Harmonisation of Survey Instruments National surveys
(R&D and innovation)
6. Production of the African Innovation outlook
Significance of ASTII
• How much of a country’s (financial)
resources are devoted to R&D ?
• How are the resources allocated among
different sectors?
• Are the available human resources
sufficiently qualified?
Major findings will be published in the African
innovation outlook
GERD as % of GDP
Share of Foreign Funding in R&D Activities
(percentage)
Challenges and Lessons Learned
• Cross-country analysis of data
• Survey methodology: sample size, reference
period, response rate
• Data collection and availability of data
 Context and definition of research and
researchers
The African Observatory for Science, Technology
and Innovation (AOSTI)
• Established by the Decision
Assembly/AU/Dec.232 (XII) of February
2009.
• The AOSTI is hosted by the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea
• Purpose :To support the development
and implementation of STI policy for
development by providing AU member
states with relevant and accurate STI
information;
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ASTII Next Steps
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Incorporation of lessons learned from Phase 1
Expansion to more countries
Addition of more indicators
Up-scaling in phase 1 countries
ASTII  AOSTI
– Africa Innovation Outlook
THANK YOU
Contact Information
Towela Nyirenda-Jere, PhD
Email: tjere@eafricacommission.org
Tel. : +27 12 841 4347