Knowledge for Africa’s Development: Going Forward.

 

September 27, 2006

Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

In May 2006, the Knowledge for Development Program held the highly successful conference on "Knowledge for Africa's Development." It was organized in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa and the Government of Finland. Attended by more than 200 high-level international participants, the Conference had deliberated strategies to better harness the contribution of knowledge to Africa's development and to support the continent's integration with the global knowledge economy. Discussions were focused on the policy challenges related to the three pillars of the knowledge economy: innovation, education, and information and communication technology. The speakers explored interdependences among the pillars and emphasized the need for a balanced approach to the knowledge economy development.

 

As a follow up, the Department of Science and Technology hosted the "Knowledge for Africa's Development: Going forward" Seminar to critically analyze the Conference's outcomes and recommendations, in order to inform the implementation of knowledge and innovation strategies in Africa. Concurrently the Seminar also served to present the outcomes of the Conference to a broader South African audience. Speakers at the Seminar included renowned South Africa, African and international knowledge economy experts, representing the public and private sector, the innovation, education and ICT communities. View the program.

 

Presentations

 

Summary Report on KAD Conference. Dr Bob Day, Non-Zero-Sum Development. (PDF, 2.27Mb)

 

Critique of the Conference Recommendations on Education. Dr CCP Madiba, Department of Education, South Africa. (PDF, 59Kb)

 

Complexity of Innovation Policy of Today. Tarmo Lemola, Senior Consultant and chairman of the Board, Advansis (Ltd) Finland. (PDF, 89Kb)

 

Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy. Dr Nolwazi Mbananga,Medical Research Council. (PDF, 112Kb)

 

The Role of the Meraka Institute in ICT R&D, Innovation and Human Capital Development. Laurens Cloete, Meraka Institute. (PDF, 335Kb)

 

From Recommendation to Implementation. Laurens Cloete, Meraka Institute. (PDF, 64Kb)  

 

For more presentations, events and publications, please visit Africa and the Knowledge Economy  page.