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Introduction to ATPS Research Programmes
ATPS Regional Programmes
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) strives to strengthen Africa's institutional capacity for managing and creating scientific and technological innovation through selective research in contemporary science and technology (S&T) policy issues that address cross-cutting questions of importance to development in the region. The Secretariat takes leadership to develop region-wide programmes, while national chapters are responsible for country-specific initiatives. The essence of this type of thematic research is to seek results that can be widely applied to solve problems in the region, share country experiences, foster networking among researchers, and provide quality advice based on robust results.
Region-wide activities are organized in three inter-related functional domains: research, capacity building, policy and advocacy and outreach. Research programmes are developed on broad themes including biotechnology, information and communication technologies (ICTs), globalization and international trade, human health technologies, and the sustainability of water and environment. For each of these programmes, detailed concept papers and proposals are prepared and discussed during the Network's annual conferences and workshops.
ATPS on-going research programmes include:
- - Agricultural Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Agriculture
- - Demand-led Research/Bridging the Gap in Agricultural Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) Systems in Kenya's Floriculture.
The ATPS Small Grants Programme
ATPS supports competitive small grants to individuals or teams in different countries within the national chapters of the Network. By aligning the research activities under this programme more closely with the strategic plan of national chapters, ATPS aims to respond more effectively to topics and agenda of national concern to researchers in the Network. Moreover, it builds within countries, the analytical skills required for quality and policy-relevant research.
So far, ATPS has funded its researchers through a selection process involving series of workshops that, cumulatively, have seen the presentation of over 600 proposals. An additional benefit in this approach to awarding research grants is the substantial "learning by doing" in engaging researchers in developing the proposals, subjecting these proposals to peer review in a workshop setting, while offering the opportunity to share ideas. The process has produced over 200 publications.
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