Presented by Nicholas Ozor (African Technology Policy Studies Network) at the First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

1. The Status of Science, Technology
and Innovation (STI) Policies in
Eastern Africa
Dr Nicholas Ozor
African Technology Policy Studies Network
(ATPS)
First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific
Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

2. Outline of Presentation
• Rationale for STI policy
• Status of STI Policies in eastern Africa
• Institutional Capacities, Research and
Development (R&D) Activities
• Achievements in STI policy in eastern Africa
• Challenges in STI policy development and
implementation in eastern Africa
• Strategy for Sustainable STI Policy
implementation in eastern Africa

3. Rationale for STI policy
• STI as driving force behind recent economic
revolution in many emerging countries
• STI underpin every one of the Millennium
Development Goals (UN, 2005)
• STI policy creates enabling environment for
R&D, private sector investment and good
governance

4. Status of STI and related policies in eastern Africa
Country National STI policy Biotechnology/Biosafety Biosafety Regulatory Regime Intellectual Property right
Policy
Burundi On-going No stand-alone bio-safety policy National Bio-safety Framework (2006). Burundian Investment Code (2009) protects all
is available. Biosafety bill (2006). intellectual property such as patents, copyrights
and trademarks
Ethiopia National STI Policy first National Biotechnology Policy Bio-safety Proclamation (2009), Ethiopian Intellectual Property Policy (2003),
approved in 1993, revised (Draft) (2001), National National Bio-safety Framework (2007)
and approved in 2012. Biodiversity Conservation and
Research Policy (1998),
Agricultural Biotechnology Policy
(1993)
Kenya National Science and National Biotechnology Regulations and Guidelines for Bio-safety Industrial Property Act, (2001)
Technology Act (1977), Development Policy (2006), and Biotechnology (1998),
National STI Policy approved National Biotechnology and Bio- Bio-safety Act (2009),
in January 2013 safety Policy (2007), Bio-safety Act implementing regulations
(2011),
Uganda National STI Policy approved National Biotechnology and Bio- Biosafety bill (2009) Laws governing IP Rights: Copyright and
in 2009, safety Policy (2008) Neighbouring Rights Act (2006), Copyrights and
Neighbouring Right Regulations (2006), Patents
Act (1993), Patents (Amendment) Act (2002),
Patent Regulations, Trademarks Act (2010),
Trade Secrets Protection Act, 2009, Industrial
Property Act 2004, The National Environment
Regulations, 2005(Access to Genetic Resources
and Benefit Sharing)
Rwanda National STI policy (2005) National Bio-safety Policy National Bio-safety Framework, NBF, Rwandan Intellectual Property Policy (2009),
contained in the National Bio- (2005),
safety Framework 2005. National Bio-safety Bill (2006), Intellectual Property Law (2009)
Tanzania National S&T policy (1996) National Biotechnology Policy National Bio-safety Framework (NBF), No IP policy yet but there are a number of
(2009), (2005), Environmental management Act institutions engaged in IP issues such as
CAP 191 (2004), Biosafety regulations Tanzania Intellectual Property Rights Network
(2009), National Environmental Policy (TIP-Net)
(1997),

5. Institutional Capacities,
R&D Activities
4 priority areas of STI capacity and research
needs
1. Knowledge generation: equipping research
and academic institutions with state-of-the-
art facilities for R&D
2. Knowledge acquisition: interventions
through education and training in STI at all
levels

6. Institutional Capacities...
4 priority areas of STI capacity and
research needs
3.Knowledge transfer: using platforms such as
technology hubs, science parks, incubation
programs, etc
4.Innovation culture: inculcating an
entrepreneurial, innovative culture at all
levels of society, including business, the
public sector, and universities.

7. Achievements in STI policy
• Integration of STI into National Development
Plans;
• Development of Biotechnology policies, bio-
safety frameworks and acts;
• Promotion of STI research programmes
especially in biotechnology;
• Establishment of research centers of excellence,
research universities and institutions;
• promotion of education and training in science
and technology

8. Challenges in STI policy development
and implementation in Eastern Africa
• Low level of investment
• Uncertainties in the operationalization of STI
policy documents;
• Limited public, private partnerships in
bioscience issues;
• Lack of awareness on the potentials of modern
bio-innovation research outputs, its associated
benefits and risks;
• Poor development and implementation of IP
and Biosafety laws

9. Strategies for Sustainable STI Policy
implementation in eastern Africa
• Strengthening the existing frameworks for
effective implementation of the STI/Bioscience
Policies
• Establishment of STI Hub
• Establishment of Innovation Funds
• Capacity building/strengthening at all levels
• Value chain development through
entrepreneurship and extension services
• Building a National System of Innovation (NSI)

10. Conclusion
• Most eastern African countries have National
STI/Bioscience policies including
biotechnology policies, biosafety policies and
biosafety frameworks.
• Governments’ recognition of the role of STI in
development agenda of eastern Africa
countries is an important step towards the
realization of economic change and
sustainable development

11. Conclusion 2
• The successful implementation of the
STI/Bioscience policies and frameworks will
rely heavily on the commitment of
government and stakeholders

12. Acknowledgement
SIDA
Bio-Innovate
BIPCEA Team

13. Thank You
nozor@atpsnet.org