Question

How is the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) aligning with the African Union's Agenda 2063?

Answer 1

A 10-year Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa was adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of African Union Heads of State and Government in 2014. The strategy, which promotes competitiveness through human capital development, innovation and value-addition, is part of the African Union's long-term, people-centred Agenda 2063, a strategic framework for the socioeconomic transformation of Africa over the next 50 years. It builds on and seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development.

This is underpinned by science, technology and innovation as multifunctional tools and enablers for achieving development goals on the continent. Agenda 2063 calls for diversifying sources of growth for Africa's economic performance and, over the long term, lifting large sections of the continent's population out of poverty. The strategy also fosters social transformation, economic industrialisation and entrepreneurship.

TIA plans to increase collaboration with research institutions across the continent through the implementation of joint technology development programmes and the provision of technical competence and entrepreneurial capacity development to increase the application of knowledge outputs in stimulating socioeconomic transformation.