Building STI Capacity in Africa. Problems. Problems Challenges Opportunities Action. Building Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity in Africa

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1 Building STI Capacity in Africa Building Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity in Africa Mohamed H.A. Hassan Executive Director, TWAS, Trieste, Italy President, AAS, Nairobi, Kenya Problems Challenges Opportunities Action 2 Building STI Capacity in Africa Problems Problems Challenges Opportunities Action Africa covers nearly 12 million square miles (22% of land surface) and is home to 965 million people Source: World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision. Highlights. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (2007). Sub-Saharan Africa is the third most populous region in the world: Over 725 million people live there, 64% in rural areas Source: African Development Indicators World Bank

2 Size of Africa Problems Africa is the poorest region in the world. Half of the population live on less than one dollar a day. Around a sixth of the entire population of sub-saharan Africa more than 100 million people are chronically poor. Source: Our Common Interest: Report of the Commission for Africa million Africans live in slums Source: Our Common Interest: Report of the Commission for Africa 42% of Africans have no access to safe drinking water Source: Our Common Interest: Report of the Commission for Africa 7 8 2

3 73% of Africans have no access to electricity In countries for which data are available around 27 percent of the population has access to electricity. Source: African Development Indicators World Bank Malaria kills 900,000 Africans each year Each year, it kills more than 1 million people around the world 90 percent of them in Africa. Source: African Development Indicators World Bank 9 10 Source: Worldmapper. PLoS Medicine 25 million Africans carry HIV Source: African Development Indicators World Bank Africa and climate change Africa is most vulnerable to climate change because of its fragile ecosystem Weak resilience and adaptation capacity 11 Source: Worldmapper. PLoS Medicine

4 African exports Building STI Capacity in Africa 50 million tons of top soil dust rich in nutrients transported each year from Africa to Amazonas Problems Challenges Opportunities Action Challenges for STI Capacity Building Challenges for STI Capacity Building 1. Disparities in STI capacity 2. Brain drain 3. Sustainability problems 1. Disparities in STI capacity North-South South-South 2. Brain drain 3. Sustainability problems

5 Challenge 1: North-South Disparities Challenge 1: North-South Disparities Country/Territory Share of papers % USA China Japan Germany United Kingdom 28.32% 6.60% 6.23% 6.15% 5.80% Shares of publications North vs. South Average World's top 25 countries, ranked by their share of world's papers in science, medicine and engineering Average France Italy Canada Spain South Korea India Australia Russia Netherlands Brazil Taiwan, China Sweden 4.45% 3.38% 3.38% 2.59% 2.36% 2.23% 2.11% 1.98% 1.86% 1.50% 1.44% 1.39% South 22% Switzerland 1.39% Turkey Poland Belgium 1.24% 1.22% 1.05% North 78% Israel 0.84% Denmark 0.74% 17 Source: SCI, January 2007 Austria Finland 0.72% 0.70% 18 Source: SCI, January 2007 Challenge 1: South-South Disparities Challenge 1: North-South Disparities Percent of World Top 12 of the South: World publication shares Average Africa s world share of ISI-listed SME papers Average North Africa (5 countries) 0.54% Sub-Saharan Africa (48 countries) 0.82% Rest of Developing World 20.36% China South Korea India Brazil Taiwan Turkey Mexico Singapore Iran Argentina South Africa Egypt Rest of the World 78.28% 19 Source: SCI, January Source: SCI, January

6 Challenge 1: Disparities in STI Challenge 1 AFRICA Share of World 1 South Africa 0.37% 2 Egypt 0.26% 3 Tunisia 0.11% 4 Morocco 0.09% 5 Nigeria 0.08% 6 Algeria 0.08% 7 Kenya 0.05% 8 Cameroon 0.03% 9 Tanzania 0.03% 10 Ethiopia 0.03% 11 Uganda 0.02% 12 Ghana 0.02% 13 Senegal 0.02% 14 Zimbabwe 0.02% Rest of Africa (39 c.) 0.16% Total Africa 1.37% African countries contributing 0.02% of world share of ISIlisted S&E papers Average How to improve quality of scientific research and education and create a culture of scientific excellence to improve productivity and reduce disparities between Africa and the rest of the world? 21 Source: SCI, January Challenges for STI Capacity Building Challenge 3: Brain Drain 1. Disparities in STI capacity 2. Brain drain 3. Sustainability problems Serious problem for African countries International market for scientific talent becoming more competitive Globalization of higher education growing competition among best universities for best and brightest students

7 Challenge 3: Brain Drain Challenge 3: Brain Drain USA and EU still greatest market place for talent from Africa Developing countries attracting talent Brazil, China, India, South Africa Providing adequate research facilities and attractive work conditions to talented African scientists is the only way to stop brain drain Rajiv Gandhi: Better brain drain than brain in the drain Challenge 3 Challenges for STI Capacity Building How to convert brain drain into brain gain and brain circulation? 1. Disparities in STI capacity 2. Brain drain 3. Sustainability problem 27 Source: The Economist,

8 Challenge 2: Sustainability Problems Challenge 2: Sustainability Problems Sustainability problems: global and complex Poverty Disease Food security Energy Water Climate change Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Eradicate poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop Global Partnership for Development Challenge 2 Building STI Capacity in Africa How can relevant STI capacity be built and sustained in Africa to assist in solving sustainability problems and in achieving MDGs? Problems Challenges Opportunities Action

9 Opportunities for STI Capacity in Africa Opportunity 1: Cutting-edge Technologies Cutting-edge technologies 2. Natural resources and biodiversity 3. Renewed political commitment in Africa 4. Greater commitment by G8 and China 34 Opportunities to contribute to sustainable well-being Wireless information and communication technologies (ICTs) Instant access to scientific and technical information from anywhere in the world Biotechnologies Substantial improvement in agriculture and health Space science and technology Monitoring environmental change and natural resources Nanotechnologies New generation of materials with broad-ranging applications to critical problems Nanotechnology Small size Nanotechnology and nanoscience is about controlling and manipulating matter on the nanometre scale One nanometre (nm) is one billionth, or 10-9, of a metre 1 1,000,000,000 For comparison: A DNA double-helix has a diameter of around 2 nm. The smallest cellular life forms, the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma, are around 200 nm in length. Mycoplasma pneumoniae

10 Application to water purification Opportunity 1: Cutting-edge Technologies Water purifiers and filters based on simple nanotechnology membrane systems Nanomembrane filters in principle work like several layers of saricloth used for water filtering in Bangladesh Several developing countries investing heavily in these fields ICTs: China, India, Brazil, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda Biotech: Brazil, China, India, Nigeria Space S&T: China, India, Brazil, Nigeria Nanotech: China, Brazil, India, South Africa Opportunities for STI Capacity in Africa Opportunity 2: Natural Resources and Biodiversity 1. Cutting-edge technologies 2. Natural resources and biodiversity 3. Renewed political commitment in Africa 4. Greater commitment by G8 and China Africa is rich in biodiversity and natural resources Centuries-long traditional knowledge Conservation and rational utilization of these resources require regional and international cooperation

11 Opportunity 2: Opportunities for STI Capacity in Africa Clean energy from African deserts Solar power plants in the Sahara desert can supply Europe with vast quantities of energy Each square kilometer of African desert every year receives solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of oil Solar energy received by deserts worldwide is nearly 1,000 times the entire annual energy consumption of the world 1. Cutting-edge technologies 2. Natural resources and biodiversity 3. Renewed political commitment in Africa 4. Greater commitment by G8 and China Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders 43 Decisions of African Union Summit Regional strategies to promote S&T in Africa: NEPAD Networks of Excellence 2007: Year of Science and Innovation S&T Expenditure at least 1% of GDP African Union Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan Several African countries have substantially increased investment in S&T Ghana Kenya Mozambique Nigeria Rwanda Senegal South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia 11

12 Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Nigeria South Africa Provided US$ 5 million to AAS Decided to establish a National Science Foundation with US$ 5 billion Rwanda President O. Obasanjo Announced over 50% increase of science budget for 2007/2008 Plans to reach AU target of 1% of GDP by 2009/2010 President T. Mbeki 45 Increased S&T expenditure to 1.6% of GDP Plans increase to 3% within next 5 years President P. Kagame 46 Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Uganda Malawi US$ 25 million loan from World Bank in support of S&T initiatives Establishing international centres of excellence in hydrology and biotechnology Zambia President Y. Museveni President B. Mutharika US$ 30 million loan from African Development Bank to build S&T capacity President L.P. Mwanawasa We have depended on donor countries for scientific development for so long it is time we commit more resources in our national budget to advance S&T

13 Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment by African Leaders Opportunity 3: Renewed Political Commitment in Africa Ghana Holding AU presidency and hosting the next AU summit (July 2007) declaring 2007 year of science and innovation in Africa President J.A. Kufuor of Ghana Africa is beginning to witness emergence of new champions of S&T in several countries These countries deserve more support by international and regional financial institutions Opportunities for STI Capacity in Africa Opportunity 4: Greater commitment by G8 and China 1. Cutting-edge technologies 2. Natural resources and biodiversity 3. Renewed political commitment in Africa 4. Greater commitment by G8 and China Commission for Africa Report (2005) US$ 5 billion to rebuild universities US$ 3 billion to establish centres of excellence in Africa

14 Opportunity 4: Greater commitment by G8 and China Building STI Capacity in Africa 53 Support to NEPAD Action Plan US$ 160 million support for networks of centres of excellence (water, biotech, lasers, mathematics) China Development Fund for Africa US$ 5 billion over the next 3 years for infrastructure, institution building and technical training 54 Problems Challenges Opportunities Action 1. Increase R&D funding in every African country to at least 1% of GDP and integrate STI into overall development plans (AU Summit, January 2007) 1. Because: Investments in STI are not luxuries for Africa, but necessities to achieve the MDGs and become a serious partner in the knowledge-based global economy Africa is too poor to be able to afford the luxury of NOT investing into STI For Africa, the unaffordable luxury is spending 7% of GDP on the military and weapons

15 2. Establish at least one world-class university in every African country to attract, train and retain scientific talent, invigorate quality education and a culture of scientific excellence in Africa 3. Establish centres of scientific excellence within universities and research institutions to ensure quality research and education, especially in basic sciences Establish interdisciplinary regional centres or networks of excellence in areas critical to economic growth biotechnology ICTs space S&T nanotechnology renewable energies 5. Establish digital libraries to access digitalized scientific material worldwide, and digital traditional knowledge libraries to be linked to international patent offices (India, China)

16 6. Establish funding mechanism to support merit-based, collaborative, problem-solving research in Africa. 7. Develop effective policies to maintain critical numbers of world-class STIleaders in each country, and effective strategies to engage Africa's scientific diaspora in Africa's development Establish local enterprises through partnerships between private industry, government and research institutions to develop innovative affordable technologies to address needs of poor communities in Africa (safe drinking water, renewable energies) 9. Utilize all opportunities provided by TWAS in support of young researchers and postgraduate students

17 the academy of sciences for the developing world the academy of sciences for the developing world Founded 1983 in Trieste, Italy, by Abdus Salam and 40 other eminent scientists from the South (incl. 10 Nobel Laureates) Inaugurated 1985 by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar 845 members in 89 countries 716 Fellows in 73 countries in the South (67 from Africa) 130 Associate Fellows in 17 countries in the North (1 from Africa) 15 Nobel Laureates TWAS Regional Offices What does TWAS do? Rio de Janeiro Brazilian Academy of Sciences Alexandria Bibliotheca Alexandrina Nairobi African Academy of Sciences Beijing Chinese Academy of Sciences Bangalore J.N. Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Recognize, support and promote excellence in scientific research in the South (TWAS Prizes, Trieste Science Prize) Respond to the needs of scientists working under unfavourable conditions (research grants, spare parts)

18 What does TWAS do? Support South-South scientific exchange and collaboration (postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowships) Promote South-North cooperation between individuals and centres of excellence (international meetings, visits of renowned scientists to institutions in the South) Promote applications of STI to real-life problems (sharing innovative experiences, joint research grants) 10. Promote science academies in Africa and transform them into dynamic boundary organizations able to provide critical services to governments, scientific communities and general public African countries with merit-based science academies Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) 71 Green: Existing academies Cameroon Senegal Egypt Sudan Ghana South Africa Kenya Tanzania Madagascar Uganda Morocco Zambia Nigeria Zimbabwe AAS (regional academy) Red: Being founded Botswana Rwanda Mauritius Tunisia Mozambique 72 Founded in Nairobi in 2001 as independent forum for African science academies to: provide (individually or jointly) independent evidence-based advice to African governments on scientific issues of critical importance to development prepare and issue common statements on major issues relevant to Africa 18

19 Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) Conclusions 73 Statements Joint statement by academies of G8 countries and NASAC to G8 summit in Scotland, in June 2005 NASAC statement to AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2007 NASAC statement to G8 summit in Germany in July In the years ahead, the Bank will prioritize S&T in its interventions. It will work with the African Union, NEPAD and the ECA as well as the regional and subregional institutions to strengthen and establish institutions with a view to narrowing the scientific gap between Africa and the rest of the world. It will also seek to create S&T centres of excellence, the objective of which would be to develop infrastructure, strengthen research, and develop and promote innovation through a public-private partnership. Statement by Donald Kaberaka, ADB president, to 23rd Conference of Heads of States of Africa, France, December 2005 Conclusions Conclusion We believe we are uniquely positioned to assist with leading the implementation of the AU declaration by committing ourselves to increasing our capacities to provide credible, evidence-based advice on science and technology issues to the continent and our respective governments, which we recognize as becoming the core function of national science academies, working individually and as a network. NASAC, AAS and TWAS stand ready to collaborate with the ADB in implementing the Bank s Strategy on Higher Education, Science and Technology Statement by presidents of NASAC to AU Summit, Ethiopia, January

20 Thank you for your attention Mohamed H.A. Hassan Executive Director, TWAS, Trieste, Italy President, AAS, Nairobi, Kenya 20