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Prof Christopher Chetsanga
Herald Correspondent
There can be weaknesses or inefficiencies in industrial creativity, entrepreneurship, knowledge base, technology, innovation and value addition during manipulation.
Science, technology and innovation serve as instruments of the economic transformation programmes. The complete technology transfer has at least four stages, acquisitive, operative, adaptive and innovative activities.
New big potential may be because of availability of raw materials (agricultural or natural resources), special skill of labour force, proximity to market, existing big demand in the domestic or international market or other factors may be involved.
An interesting twist to the “big potential” approach can be where a major crisis was turned into a big opportunity. It was when the country faced a crisis. In response, the government came up with a 5 year development plan for green growth with objectives of enhancing its energy and at the time promoting green technology as a new engine of economic growth.
There has been an approach of dealing with new technologies. The new technologies that are commonly applied here include biotechnology, information technology and nanotechnology. These have to be evaluated from the perspective of economic benefits and national capacity.
In the case of Information Technology (IT), the possible economic benefits include; application of IT in existing business for higher efficiency, productivity and profitability, providing services for IT application and development and manufacturing of IT hardware.
Critical questions relating with Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) deal with socio-economic information especially for wealth creation. The STI in a community provides conditions under which STI can truly become a tool for socio-economic transformation.
International collaboration in STI promotes economic development. It requires collaboration with national stakeholders and at the international level to promote good economic development.
Human resources consisting of champions, advisors, planners and managers will provide the STI agenda which can be formalised into an organisational hierarchy which will provide constitutional governance structure for the STI.
The National STI Council incorporates the various champions and becomes responsible for policy and strategic direction, STI agenda formulation, its implementation and coordination oversight.
The National STI Board acts as a secretariat and as a bridge between the Council and the implementing ministries and agencies as well as the private sector and international partners. Its functions include; policy and STI agenda, Research and Development priorities, STI promotion and popularisation. They should work to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
They work to reduce inequality within the country. They build resilient infrastructures, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. They ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The policy issue is a guiding principle on functioning of an organisation. A policy is a declaration of intent with legitimate justification.
Technology is an application of science to industrial objectives. The 4-critical groups of technologies essential for socio-economic transformation include;
Technology for meeting basic needs such as food, water and shelter.
Technology for quality of life e.g education, healthcare, stabilisation of population size and environmental sustainability.
Technology for wealth creation in support of economic growth and competitiveness.
Technology for good governance in both public and private sectors.
When these four activities are applied into situations where they are needed, human security will be sustained.
Regarding life security, we should ensure that people get healthy lives and promote the well-being of all ages. In this regard, we should ensure the availability and sustainable management of pure water and sanitation for all.
Regarding the importance of energy, we should ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. For the support of our labour unions, we should promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and a decent work for all.
We should make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. We should take target action to combat climate changes and its impacts. We should make sure that we have sustainable combustion and production facilities.
We should promote sustainable agriculture in order to prevent hunger, achieve food security and to gain improved nutrition.
The council should meet regularly to be updated on implementation progress. It will be appraised of new developments.
The head of government in most countries, has a science advisor. He may be part of the formal advisory system. This is a wise arrangement as many Heads of Government may not have a scientific training background as many economic enterprises in most countries are not science based.
The importance of innovation is that it is a successful exploitation of human creativity by the incorporation of technologies, processes and best practices for sustainable economic development. It is strategic change in design, technology, process and mindset or a combination of these applications.
When any of these activities are applied into situations where they are needed, human security will be sustained.
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