(-) Environment & Climate Change--Sustainable development (4)
Governance--Higher education policy (3)
(-) Science & Technology--Innovation systems (2)
Analysis & Opinions - Technology+Policy | Innovation@Work
Africa's Economic Growth Prospects
Calestous Juma
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"The rise in technocratic leadership in Africa is directly related to the emphasis that the continent is placing on economic transformation. But more important, there is growing preference for blending democratic change with managerial competence in running public affairs. This suggests a different type of governance system that combines western party politics and eastern technocracy. It would appear from these nascent trends that Africa is starting to shape its economic future by borrowing ideas from around the world and adapting them to local needs."
Development: Learning from Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew
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"The question of whether nations can learn from history nag policymakers around the world. Part of the problem is that history is handed down through a variety of interpretations that do not reflect reality. But contemporary history, if genuine presented, can offer policy makers with lessons they can learn from....Singapore's lessons for other developing countries have yet to be fully appreciated. This is partly because much of the discussion has tended to focus on rhetorical arguments about relationships between governance and economic growth."
Analysis & Opinions - Global Food For Thought
Biotechnology and Africa's Strategic Interests
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"Biotechnology offers Africa a wider range of economic opportunities than the Green Revolution did. It is already being used to improve food production and establish or revive cotton production. Its economic impact is therefore likely to go well beyond the farm sector to include industrial development."
Analysis & Opinions - The Daily Nation
Africa Must Wake Up to the Reality That Hunger is Now a National Security Issue
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"The tools available to India in the 1960s are not sufficient to address the challenges that African agriculture now faces. These include a rapidly-growing population, productivity loss due to ecological disruption, environmental decay, droughts, climate change, and conflict. Biotechnology offers additional tools that can help Africa address some of these challenges. It is another moment that calls for the kind of political courage that led to the adoption of the Green Revolution."
Analysis & Opinions - Daily Yomiuri
Net Access for African Universities Would Boost Continent
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"African universities could be the continent's gateways into the global knowledge economy for local diffusion of new technologies. But this potential remains unrealized because universities and research institutes in Africa remain digitally isolated from the rest of the world. This is partly because of government neglect and lack of strategic policies on Internet access....Providing low-cost, high-speed Internet access to African universities will help Africa build the capacity it needs to solve its own problems. It is one of the most strategic investments that the G-8 countries can make in Africa in the coming few years."
Analysis & Opinions - Business Daily
Improving China's Image in Africa
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"China's ability to respond rapidly to requests for investment in new areas such as infrastructure has emboldened many African leaders who are under pressure to meet their electoral promises....Many of the transactions between China and Africa are kept confidential and little is known about their terms. Promoting greater transparency and mutual learning from those arrangements will help to improve the image of Chinese businesses in Africa."
Innovation System Needs Reforms
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African countries are increasing the allocation of funds to scientific research. But such investments will be wasted if they are used for basic research rather than product innovation.
Innovative Approaches Key to Financing Higher Technical Education
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"There are other long-term measures to support technical higher education, which include providing tax incentives to private individuals and firms that create and run technical institutes on the basis of agreed government policy.
Governments too need to formulate policies that allow experienced government, industry and civil society staff and other professionals to serve as faculty and instructors in these institutions. This can be implemented as part of a national service system or as an effort to expose students to practitioners."
Analysis & Opinions - Asahi Shimbun
Equitable Development Key to World Security
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr
Necla Tschirgi
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"Development is crucial for human security, not only for those in poor countries but also for people throughout the world."