African Journal Of Science, Technology, Innovation And Development (AJSTID)
Theme: Innovation and Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Theoretical and Empirical Studies from Africa
By any measure of economic transformation, Africa stands at a decisive juncture. In an era where global value chains (GVCs) shape the geography of production and innovation determines who captures value, Africa’s industrial future must be reconceived—not just as a matter of manufacturing more, but of learning better, innovating faster, and integrating smarter. The path to industrialisation in the 21st century no longer mirrors the trajectories of the past. Today, success lies in how well a country navigates the intersections of global production networks, innovation systems, and strategic industrial policy. For Africa, the challenge is clear: to transition from being rule-takers at the periphery of GVCs to becoming value-makers embedded in the heart of global economic transformations.
This special issue seeks to advance scholarly understanding of innovation, learning, and upgrading within GVCs, specifically from the perspective of African countries and firms. We invite empirical and theoretical contributions that critically engage with the positioning of Africa within global production and innovation systems.
We particularly welcome submissions that examine the following areas:
- Empirical case studies highlighting how African firms or sectors are innovating and upgrading within local, regional, or global value chains.
- Theoretical contributions that conceptualise GVCs as transnational innovation systems, fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and technological capability development.
- Studies on open innovation and inter-firm collaboration, particularly how African enterprises build strategic alliances to enhance their positions within GVCs.
- Explorations of the informal sector’s contributions to GVC participation and innovation within African economies.
- Policy-oriented research assessing the influence of industrial, innovation, or trade policies on capability upgrading and inclusion in GVCs.
- Analyses of digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially their impact on Africa’s integration into high-value segments of GVCs.
Beyond the publication itself, this special issue aims to convene members of the Africalics community who are interested in joining the Research Coordination Area (RCA) on Global Value Chains, Innovation, and Industrialisation. Interested members are welcome to reach out to the RCA coordinator Prof. Oluseye Jegede (oluseyejegede@gmail.com) or submit a paper to the special issue. Everyone who submits will be considered a full member of the RCA team.
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