Ekurhuleni: Africa must strengthen its research infrastructure – particularly public research capabilities – if it is to meaningfully address inequality. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, emphasized the importance of research in addressing structural inequality, poverty, and unemployment, which are rooted in the continent’s colonial past. He highlighted that climate change and other emerging challenges continue to impede Africa’s developmental progress and its ability to engage globally on equal terms.
According to South African Government News Agency, Nzimande made these remarks at the Engaged Research Conference in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, attended by senior government officials, heads of public research and academic institutions, business leaders, and young researchers. He urged public institutions to facilitate knowledge transfer, foster collaboration between researchers and communities, and address pressing societal issues directly. Science and technology, he noted, should uplift communities and bridge gaps of inequality.
Nzimande called for expanding Africa’s research infrastructure over the next decade, aiming to enhance the continent’s contribution on the global stage. He stressed that only through robust public research capabilities can the intersection of knowledge and society be achieved. Establishing efficient connections among pan-African research infrastructures would enhance collaboration among African scientists and researchers, which is crucial for implementing initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa.
The Engaged Research Project, part of the conference organized by the Human Sciences Research Council, seeks to advance engaged research within South Africa’s National System of Innovation. Nzimande highlighted the severe inequality and social challenges Africa faces, referencing the United Nations’ 2025 World Social Report. He pointed out that despite poverty reduction gains, many remain vulnerable, with over 2.8 billion people living on US$2.15 to US$6.85 a day.
He also underscored the Global South’s significant role in the world economy and innovation landscape, accounting for 85% of the world’s population, around 40% of the global economy, and 46% of global goods exports. Nzimande encouraged increased investment in research and development to bolster Africa’s innovation capabilities, noting that many emerging economies have seen continuous enhancement in innovation due to such investments.
As Africa looks to the future, conference delegates agreed that prioritizing public research institutions is essential for sustainable development.
