The rise of domestic digital platforms, proliferation of innovation hubs, and research and development (R&D) centres across the ‘Global South’ brings some promise for potentially balancing traditionally uneven patterns of global knowledge production.
Building innovation-driven and knowledge-based economies is an important component of many national development plans and international cooperation efforts. However, the standard emphasis on capacity-building and skills transfers often clouds other priorities, including on how to develop and maximize truly ‘homegrown’ knowledge ecosystems and technology production amidst the dominance of multinational technology companies, and how to inclusively invest in domestic innovation capacities.
This event explores the intersection of technology and the global knowledge economy, analysing the policy and legislative dimensions of innovation, research and technology development; shared challenges; and potential collaborative strategies among actors in the ‘Global South’.
This event concludes a series of discussions supported by Omidyar Network exploring South-South approaches to cooperation on technology governance, with a focus on Kenya, India, Nigeria and South Africa.
The event will also be broadcast live on the Africa Programme’s Facebook page.
