Increasingly, African states recognise the significance of science, technology and innovation (STI) measurement for assessing progress towards the SDGs and STI Strategy for Africa (STISA) targets, as well as monitoring STI policy achievements at a national level. A concern is that STI measurement is heavily reliant on concepts and theories transposed from the experience of high-income countries, begging the question of relevance.

The emphasis in the field of innovation studies is shifting, from a conceptual focus on the contribution of innovation to economic growth, to interrogating how innovation drives inclusive and sustainable development (Allard and Williams, 2020; Park et al., 2017; Pansera and Owen, 2018; Rodriguez et al., 2020). Despite this shift, research on low-income countries in particular, is fragmented and remains marginal (Lema et al 2021).

This webinar attempts to encourage and prioritise attempts to fill the gap in the literature and hence, policy spaces. Building on a recent bibliometric research study on the current state of STI measurement in Africa, the webinar informs the conversation around future research on STI measurement in Africa, towards the goal of creating contextually-relevant STI indicators (Kruss et al 2023). The session contributors share the premise that we require a stronger empirical and conceptual research base to inform shifting policy and measurement objectives.

The session will start with the Chair providing an overview of the research agenda proposed in the AfricaLics Thematic Report (Kruss et al 2023; https://africalics.org/thematic-chair-report/). The panel will present recent research addressing four research agenda topics:

• Measuring progress and the impact of digital technologies and the fourth industrial revolution
• STI measurement towards advancing the SDGs and understanding impact
• Empirically grounded research on innovation measurement in the informal sector
• Creating quality data sets

Structure of the session

Session Chair: Glenda Kruss, Research Development, Science and Innovation (RDSI), HSRC, South Africa

AfricaLics thematic chair: Introduction to the working group on Africa-focused innovation measurement, Il-haam Petersen, CeSTII, HSRC, South Africa

Speakers and presentations:

• STI indicators for measuring digital transformation: gaps and challenges, Maruf Sanni, NACETEM, Nigeria
• Mobilising STI for gender equality and inclusivity in a digital world, Ann Kingiri, ACTS, Kenya
• Innovation and Informality: assessing drivers of technological innovation in Africa, Oluseye Jegede, UK, Nazeem Mustapha, CeSTII, HSRC, South Africa
• Creating quality data sets: a data governance maturity assessment tool, Darryn Whisgary, CeSTII, HSRC
• Contextualising business innovation measurement frameworks and methodologies: innovation modes of South African businesses, Amy Kahn and Yasser Buchana, CeSTII, HSRC