Minister of Science and Technology, Sandton
8 May 2006
Mr Chairperson,
Minister Massingue and other African Ministers and former Ministers
present,
Ambassador Tuunanen,
World Bank Vice President Leautier,
World Bank Vice President Nankani,
Dear Colleagues and Friends
South Africa is indeed honoured and privileged to host this important
Conference in partnership with our colleagues in the World Bank and the
Government of Finland. We sincerely value and appreciate the presence and
support of all African and international delegates who have travelled from afar
to deliberate on the perspectives and challenges of harnessing knowledge for
Africaâs development.
Indeed, we are honoured to have in our midst today, the Minister of Science
and Technology of Mozambique, Dr Vanancio Massingue, his predecessor Professor
Brito, Minister Razafinjatovo of Madagascar and former Minister Ndoye from
Senegal, as well as a number of leading experts in African science and
education.
The high premium that my Government places on this conference is
demonstrated by the participation of three South African cabinet ministers,
three Directors-General and their senior officials.
Generating knowledge and applying its results to fight poverty and promote
sustainable development is a central pillar of my mandate as Minister of
Science and Technology. I, therefore, look forward to the deliberations of the
next three days, but more especially, to opportunities for learning and
experience sharing.
In recent years, the global debate on the role of knowledge and the place of
key development drivers such as innovation, education and ICTs in the modern
society have assumed greater urgency.
You will recall that less than four years ago, world leaders assembled in
this city to pledge their commitment to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. That Plan called for a
concerted global effort to invest in and optimally harness knowledge generation
and innovation to advance sustainable development.
Since 2002, the spirit of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation that
emanated from the WSSD, has found expression in different international and
regional initiatives. The results of the World Summit on Information Society
(WSIS) speak directly to some of its key tenets. We also witnessed the adoption
by the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology in 2005, of
Africaâs Consolidated Science and Technology Plan of Action, which embodies a
watershed continental commitment to sustainable growth and development.
At a practical level, other examples include global partnership initiatives
such as the work by the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) to enhance the ability
of countries to use Earth observation data and information products to inform
science-based decision- and policy-making. Significant work has, for example,
also been accomplished in fostering a global science compact to fight
poverty-related communicable diseases.
Other international platforms such as the OECD, the Non-Aligned Movement,
the G77 and the G8, have also considered the vital interface between knowledge
and development.
We, therefore, need to ensure that harnessing the power of international
discourse on the imperatives of modern global development becomes one of our
key preoccupations over the next three days. Similarly, broadening and
deepening Africaâs agenda for sustainable growth and development through
knowledge and innovation should constitute one of our goals.
In this respect, this conference should also focus at achieving the
following:
* the conference should seek to bolster and stimulate the African policy
dialogue on knowledge for development
* it should issue a renewed call for increased global investment in Africaâs
knowledge generation infrastructure and capacities
* take this unique opportunity to map out new international partnership
modalities to assist Africaâs optimal integration into the global knowledge
economy.
May I, now briefly elaborate on and offer some suggestions for specific
activities in all three of these areas:
With regard to the first suggestion, there is of course, already a vibrant
African policy dialogue in continental forums such as the African Ministerial
Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST), as well as in corresponding
entities responsible for education and the information society. However, the
value that this conference can add is by bringing together the critical actors
from these entities in order to facilitate a dialogue on the many cross-cutting
issues.
A key cross-cutter is human capital development. We have to ensure that
Africa has the necessary skills base to make knowledge work for development.
Effective interventions to deal with the many challenges related to education
and training, including, for example, issues such as skills retention, cannot
be developed through isolated sectoral strategies. It is, therefore, my hope
that this conference will place the necessary emphasis on the need for greater
integrative decision and policy-making approaches and strategies as fundamental
conditions for the transition to the knowledge economy.
Similarly, issues related to innovation, and improving Africaâs ability to
translate research outputs into effective interventions for social development
and economic growth, also call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Thus, it
would be most valuable if this Conference could, accordingly, stimulate
stronger industrial and business contributions to the knowledge for development
agenda.
We also need to look at enhancing the innovation capacities of local
communities, especially in poverty-stricken rural areas. I am pleased to note
that a dedicated workshop, organized by our colleagues at the Tshwane
University of Technology, which will consider how knowledge and technology can
support innovation and learning in communities, will be held as an immediate
follow-up event on Thursday.
I shall now turn to the second focus area, namely, using the conference as a
platform to leverage international resources to support knowledge and
innovation capacities in Africa.
Since the emergence of the new global consensus on the role played by
science and technology for development, it is not unusual for development
cooperation funding to be allocated to knowledge and innovation activities.
This new development perspective has resulted in a number of new science and
technology oriented programmes being considered by our international partners,
including donor countries and International Financial Institutions. The
conclusions of the 2005 Commission for Africa Report, and the various G8 Summit
Declarations, for example, recommend substantial support to African science and
technology. This is also echoed by the Tokyo International Conference on
African Development (TICAD), the European Unionâs Africa Strategy and Chinaâs
White Paper on Engagement with Africa.
A promising start has therefore been made, including institutional
developments such as the appointment of science advisors by major donor
agencies. Needless to say, much more could still be done. A substantial effort
is still required to ensure science and technology is mainstreamed as part of
all major development, cooperation and aid programmes.
We hope that our deliberations will inform international donor strategies on
knowledge for development.
There is no doubt that progress towards achieving targets such as the
Millennium Development Goals, will only be realised through substantial
investment in the growth of the knowledge economy. Innovative and new
partnership models, involving international financial institutions such as the
World Bank, will therefore be imperative.
Donor support is, of course, not the only possible funding source. The
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment
Report of 2005 rightly highlights the allocation, by multinational companies,
of R&D activities in developing countries as a major emerging investment
trend. Sadly, very few of these investments are currently directed at
Africa.
Undoubtedly, this Conference can significantly contribute towards our
understanding of the drivers for science and technology investment in Africa.
Africa has a major role in creating an enabling environment for such
investment, but a critical discussion and analysis of the dynamics are
required, which the Conference can certainly provide.
In respect of mapping out new partnership modalities, these will be
informed, in the first instance, by the policy dialogue and funding instruments
already discussed.
The need for establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with Africa
derive both from the substantial assistance and cooperation it seeks, and the
huge and embedded natural and intellectual resources that Africa can
provide.
The global knowledge economy, which has a potential to lead to sustainable
peace and prosperity, will only thrive if it encompasses all regions of the
world. Therefore, Africa needs to become a full and active partner in
multilateral forums and strong bilateral relations.
Africa currently produces approximately 1% of new knowledge generation
globally; it needs to be connected to the other 99% of international
activities. However, Africa also has huge competitive advantages which could
and should be harnessed through strategic partnerships, smart policy choices
and the development niche areas of excellence.
But, in all good partnerships, both sides should be equal drivers, and at
all times, all sides should be confident of mutual benefit. They lay the
elements of sustainability. The knowledge economy is high on Africaâs agenda.
There is a move on the continent, led jointly by AMCOST and the Office of the
AU Commissioner for Science and Technology, to dedicate the theme of
innovation, science and technology, and their important role in catalysing
Africaâs development agenda, to the January 2007 African Union Summit.
The importance of partnership cannot be overstated. There is no doubt that
this conference will further enrich the global partnership dialogue. It is;
therefore, appropriate to conclude this address by speaking to the theme of
partnership.
We are deeply indebted to our organising partners in this event - the World
Bank and the Government of Finland. Indeed, our collaboration epitomises the
committed and mutually beneficial cooperation required to enhance the knowledge
for development agenda.
Deepening our partnership with the World Bank can only enhance and
complement our activities as smart knowledge partners. The organisation of the
Conference has certainly highlighted the potential for this engagement, which I
will be exploring further with Dr Leautier over the coming days.
The organisation of the Conference is yet another example of a very fruitful
cooperation enjoyed by South Africa with Finland in the domains of knowledge
and innovation. Ambassador Tuunanen we remain most grateful for your countryâs
friendship and support.
The participation here today by a number of countries and institutions bears
testimony to an already extensive partnership that Africa enjoys and wants to
build on.
Dear Colleagues and Friends, it is on this optimistic note, which is
encouraged by my confidence in the important contribution our deliberations
over the coming days will make, that I wish to conclude.
I wish all delegates a rich and engaging event, and a most pleasant stay in
South Africa. I hope our future interaction and cooperation will grow from
strength to strength.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
8 May 2006
