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ATPS Responsible Science, Technology and Innovations Knowledge for African Development Forum (RSTI-K4AD Forum)

 

The ATPS RSTI-K4AD Forum is a web-hosted Knowledge Management (KM) tool. It aims to deploy a range of e-participatory approaches to bring together STI relevant institutions (both governmental and non-governmental), researchers, and private sector actors to identify, create, represent, and communicate STI knowledge in Africa to ensure adequate valorization. The concept of innovation here pertains to the introduction of new products, processes and services and to organizational and societal renewal. Valorization refers to the effective use / application of the results of science and technology for development.

 

The web-hosted Knowledge Management (KM) tool brings together virtual communities focused on furthering the fundamental theories, methods, and practices supporting specialized knowledge communities in the STI policy research and practice, focusing on African development . To Launch the RSTI-K4AD Forum , the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is creating a number of knowledge boards for the following knowledge communities:

 

•  African Knowledge transfer partnership, Nigeria chapter. Innovation through collaboration:advancing value to African economies through knowledge sharing partnerships:This is an initiative to facilitate collaboration between the science and technology knowledge base and the private sector, following a conference of the British Council's "Africa knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AKTP)" program, 25 - 26 February 2009, in Nairobi Kenya. AKTP is a British Council Science & Technology Programme. For details, see http://www.britishcouncil.org/africa-aktp.htm. This initiative falls under the auspices of the ATPS Phase VI Strategic Plan's Innovation Challenge Program which aims at building a culture of innovation amongst African Scientists, Technologists, Policymakers, and Private Sector Entrepreneurs for African Development." To join, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/entrepreneurship_incubator/  

•  African Parliamentarians (Policymakers) in STI network (APSTI-Net). APSTI-Net is a web-based knowledge forum for all African Parliamentarians (Policy makers) responsible for STI related ministries and government parastatals in Africa . It provides a forum for sharing knowledge on STI policy formation, theory and practice, in Africa . To join APSTI, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/apsti/  

•  African Parliamentary Staff in Science, Technology and Innovation (APSSTI-Net). APSSTI-Net is a web-based knowledge forum for all African Parliamentary staff who support African Parliamentarians in STI policy formulation. It will host an e-knowledge resource for Parliamentary staff to ensure access to cutting edge STI policy research, theory and practice in and outside Africa , with implications for African development. The e-based knowledge board will enable members to ask questions, share experiences, and access information on what is happening in their respective ministries, countries, etc. To join APSSTI visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/apssti_net/  

•  African Researchers in STI (ARSTI-net). ARSTI-Net will provide an e-platform for researchers working on STI policy issues related to African development, both within the continent and in the Diaspora. It aims to strengthen networking and knowledge sharing in STI knowledge generation for African development. To join APSTI visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/arsti_net/  

•  African Youths in STI (AYSTI-net). AYSTI-net is a web-based platform for African youths in STI to share knowledge on STI policy related subjects, capacity building and training opportunities, curriculum content, etc. This platform targets members of the already established African Youth Forun for Science and Technology (AYFST) established by the ATPS and its partners Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation,(CTA) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of Ghana in 2005. To join AYFST, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/aysti_net/  

•  African Women in STI (AWSTI-net). AWSTI-net is a web-based platform for African Women in STI to share knowledge on STI policy related subjects, ongoing capacity building activities. This platform targets members of the already established African Women Forum for Science and Technology (AWFST) established by the ATPS in 2007. To join AYFST, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/awsti_net/  

•  Science, Ethics and Technological Responsibility in Developing and Emerging Countries (SET-DEV).SET-DEV is a new EU framework VII (FP7) coordination and support action project, aimed at bringing science closer to society, to facilitate sharing of experiences and responsibilities for scientific and technological research amongst targeted partner countries in Europe, Africa and Asia; to strengthen international and regional networks in the fields of ethics and science and to implement best practices in emerging and developing countries. To join SET-DEV group, visit http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/setdev_project/ 

 

  Why ATPS RSTI-K4AD Forum?

It is now widely acknowledged that responsible science, technology and innovations are necessary conditions for development. The need for responsible STI is much more in developing countries especially as countries seek to cope with economic, social and environmental challenges to achieve the millennium development goals. Significant amount of work (STI research, policy formulation, innovation cluster initiatives) are therefore ongoing as African governments, knowledge institutions and private sector actors seek to develop responsible STI policies and practices to achieve the multifarious goals set at national, regional and international levels. However, the concepts of innovation theory, policy and practice are still poorly understood. The discourse on and practice of STI policy research, policy formulation theory and practice has therefore proceeded in an ad hoc, and often uninformed and uncoordinated manner. In some cases, quality STI knowledge generated by some knowledge communities are published in international journals, project reports and/or held within specific knowledge communities that are not readily accessible to the STI policy stakeholders in the continent. In other cases, duplications occur as the ongoing activities are not properly communicated to the STI policy stakeholders. Some African experts, knowledge communities, policymakers and private sector actors often lack ready access to STI knowledge resources necessary for STI policy research and evidence-based policy formulation and policy practice. The STI knowledge generated are often not properly volarized.

 

There is now increasing consensus in the economic development field that one key weakness of the development efforts in Africa is not lack of knowledge per se, but the inability to properly translate existing knowledge (both indigenous and orthodox) into innovations for development. The ATPS RSTI-K4AD Forum is designed to address this gap.

The web-hosted knowledge resource will be managed by the ATPS Communications Team led by Dr. Catherine Adeya Weya, the ATPS Research & Training Manager who has a longstanding experience in STI policy research, theory and practice, website: http://www.atpsnet.org/about/staff.html; and manned by the ATPS Senior Communications Officer, with relevant experience in science journalism and STI Knowledge management, e-mail: info@atpsnet.org

 

Membership benefits

Enrolled members of the ATPS RSTI-K4AD Forum will:

•  Have exclusive access to a “members' only” discussion board with features for exclusive networking and brainstorming on questions raised by members.

•  Have free access to a wide range of information on ongoing STI policy research, theory and practice that are relevant to African development.

•  Receive a quarterly synthesis of emerging issues in the STI policy milieu at African and Global scales.

•  Free access to all ATPS publications and links to associated STI institutions and Networks

•  Access to periodic facilitated e-discussions on selected STI policy issues relevant to African development

•  Access to a free platform for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue and showcasing good practice in STI policy theory and practice

 

For more details, please contact info@atpsnet.org