Chapter 9: The health of the sub-national innovation ecosystem in Africa

Abstract

This groundbreaking edited volume offers a fresh and critical perspective on innovation in Africa, challenging conventional, technocentric interpretations of national systems of innovation (NSI). Moving beyond the narrow focus on science, technology and formal institutions, the book adopts a political economy approach that incorporates both formal and informal sectors as well as socio-economic and political dynamics. Through rich theoretical insights and compelling case studies from South Africa and other African contexts, the book demonstrates how innovation is often driven by informal economies and non-technological elements that have been historically sidelined in mainstream discourse. It also examines pressing contemporary issues such as ecological degradation, climate change, green energy transitions, and sub-national innovation ecosystems, offering practical policy recommendations for inclusive science, technology and innovation (STI) development. Anchoring its analysis in a novel understanding of post-colonial African economies, the book provides a heterodox approach to NSI that is highly relevant for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in economic development, innovation policy, and sustainable, inclusive growth.

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