Technology planning can help Africa prepare for the new competition frontier - Economist

Abstract

A senior African economist has stated that technological planning provides African economies with an opportunity to prepare themselves for what he calls “the new competition frontier'. The training workshop was the first of its kind and brought together more than 50 economists and scientists from the continent and the Diaspora, following a recommendation of the “Science with Africa Conference” which was held from 3-7 March 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union, Scientific Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC) in collaboration with the International Council for Science Regional Office for Africa (ICSU ROA) and the Kenya National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) organized the Nairobi meeting. It convened against the background of lack of integration of technology planning in the countries' development plans and stronger technological governance.