China: An inspiration in building Africa’s R&D capacity

Today’s China is the product of its fourth attempt at industrialisation which started in the late 70’s. Now the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, it achieved this through ramping up spending in Research and Development (R&D). R&D is the key to the innovation door-providing untrammelled access to new knowledge, products and services. The world is on the […]

Today’s China is the product of its fourth attempt at industrialisation which started in the late 70’s. Now the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, it achieved this through ramping up spending in Research and Development (R&D).

R&D is the key to the innovation door-providing untrammelled access to new knowledge, products and services.

The world is on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution which will be dominated by Artificial Intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, renewable energy and space travel and countries like China are working frenetically towards that direction.

In its 14th five-year plan 2021-2025, it hopes to achieve an annual increase of more than seven percent in its research and development spending according to official statistics. Reports have it that China’s R&D spending is second only to the U.S since 2013 having been investing more than two percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in R&D. Not a few Chinese firms are setting aside huge funds for R&D in apparent lockstep with the plan.

Already, the Americans are launching a bipartisan 200 billion US dollars Innovation and Competition Act. Sources say the US is the country with the highest R&D expenditure with China following hot on its heels. However, forecast for 2021 puts China in the lead with spending exceeding 621 billion dollars against the US investment of 589.7 billion dollars.

R&D in many developing countries in Africa hasn’t taken root which may continue to put it at the backwaters just as other parts of the world have seen the future and are taking hold of it through well thought plans and preparations. To all intents and purposes a knowledge-based economy is impossible without encouraging research which births innovation.

The involvement of Africa in global contribution and development of knowledge pales in comparison with the rest of the world generating below one percent of the world’s scientific knowledge despite its huge population. The 2019 UNESCO’s institute of statistics estimates put the continent’s R&D funding at 0.42 percent which is below the global average of 1.7 percent. It’s the practice to have institutions, business enterprises, non-profit organisations aside government spending on R&D. However, in Africa, these players are too weak to perform such roles.

Basically, the wheel of R&D in Africa is either slow or not rolling at all due to poor or absence of funding. The truth is, Africa is still throttled by corruption and increase in expenditure on research under an atmosphere saturated with corruption will yield no results. So, aside improved funding, focus is required on building strong institutions. Other important factors include: university-industry partnerships/linkages, effective legislation, support for industrial and manufacturing firm in prioritising R&D activities.

Africa must develop its research capabilities and manpower, if not, it may just languish as other continents race towards being active players in the rich field of technology and innovation. Having been fascinated by China’s phenomenal progress leading to adoption of a myriad of its development models, Africa should look to it for inspiration on this score.

 

Abachi Ungbo, [email protected]