Growing technology and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa through Business Innovation Centres: Case study of Ghana
Abstract: Bridging the technological innovation gap in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a concern to governments and development partners. Investments in programmes that will facilitate the diffusion of technology into the public and private sectors have been pursued over the past two decades. Yet, SSA still lags behind in reaping the digital dividend of technology. This study looks at the role of Business Innovation Centres, as innovation actors, in helping grow indigenous technology firms to solve local problems. Using Ghana as a case study, the study adopted the innovation system approach to assess how BICs are helping technology startups grow in SSA. Six (6) BICs and their startups were interviewed to understand the innovation actors and how they coordinate to facilitate knowledge transfer to startups. The study found that BICs play three core roles in the innovation system: knowledge transfer, innovation finance and building networks and partnerships to benefit startups. In spite of the efforts of BICs, poor coordination from other stakeholders such as government, TNCs and universities blunts the efforts of BICs in spearheading technological innovation and growth. BICs therefore, have stronger relationship with global innovation partners than they do locally. Thus, while BICs have the potential to spur technological innovation they are constrained by systemic innovation bottlenecks common to most developing countries.
AT THIS PAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (follow the link to the next page)