The East African Community (EAC) is a regional inter-governmental organization comprising the Republics of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo. The main objective of EAC is to develop policies and programs aimed at widening and deepening co-operation among the Partner States in political, economic, social and cultural fields, research and technology, defence, security and legal and judicial affairs, for their mutual benefit.
The treaty that established the East African Community recognizes science and technology as a key driver for sustainable socio-economic development. As a result, the 5th Extra-ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, held in June 2007, established the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) as an institution of the EAC, mandated to coordinate and promote the development, management and application of science and technology in Partner States to support regional integration and socio-economic development. The formulation of the regional innovation and technology transfer strategy is aimed at contributing to the objectives of EASTECO. The strategy is purposed to catalyse industrial innovation and related outputs, strengthen technology and knowledge transfer, enhance knowledge creation, build effective partnerships, and improve technology management and protection.
The development of this East African Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategy (EARITTS) was stakeholders driven and was undertaken through a six-steps process. This included documenting the status of innovation and technology transfer in the region, mapping of the key stakeholders involved in the East African Innovation Ecosystem, field data collection, preparation of a draft strategy, regional validation of the strategy and preparation of a comprehensive strategy implementation plan.
The situation analysis identified strengths and gaps in the region’s innovation and technology transfer ecosystem anchored on eleven (11) objectives, which have informed the EAC regional innovation and technology transfer strategy. The vision, mission, and strategic objectives are as follows:
Vision:
An Innovation Driven Regional Economic Transformation
Mission:
To accelerate the realization of regional economic transformation through strengthening of innovation and technology transfer at sub-national, national, and regional levels.
Strategic Objectives:
The above vision and mission will be realized through the following eleven (11) strategic objectives:
Strategic objectives to be pursued
1. To strengthen the legal and policy framework supporting innovation and technology transfer.
2. To strengthen institutional framework supporting innovation and technology transfer.
3. To enhance access by innovators and start-ups to innovation support structures.
4. To strengthen innovation, technology and knowledge transfer in universities and research organizations.
5. To enhance skills and talents for innovation, technology, and knowledge Transfer.
6. To develop and strengthen innovation and technology management and protection.
7. To enhance access to funding for innovation and technology transfer.
8. To strengthen collaboration, linkages, and partnerships in knowledge creation and transfer.
9. To strengthen provision of information services on innovation and technology transfer.
10. To enhance development and deployment of emerging technologies.
11. To strengthen industrial innovation building and support
Strategic objectives to be pursued
Some 48 strategies and 69 actions/activities have been formulated which will be implemented in a period of five years. Some activities will be implemented by EASTECO while most of the activities will be implemented by the member states with EASTECO provided a facilitating role. Approximately US$ 5.55 million will be required to implement this strategy. The resources will be mobilised through EASTECO budget, EAC countries as well as development partners. There are several players such as IDRC, SIDA,
FCDO, GIS as well as EU, which currently have special interest in promoting innovation, technology transfer, particularly those activities related to national and institutional policies, capacity building and development of appropriate templates and guidelines on innovation and technology transfer. These partners will be targeted to mobilise resources for the implementation of the strategy.
