Open Data’s Effect on Food Security
Agricultural data is a vital resource in the effort to address food insecurity. This data is used across the food-production chain. For example, farmers rely on agricultural data to decide when to plant crops, scientists use data to conduct research on pests and design disease resistant plants, and governments make policy based on land use data. As the value of agricultural data is understood, there is a growing call for governments and firms to open their agricultural data.
Exploring Crowd-Based Capitalism in Africa’s Sharing Economy
The sharing economy has been growing at an ever-accelerating pace throughout the world as peer-to-peer networks and collaborative company models continue to pop up. The sharing economy, according to Rachel Botsman, is “an economic model based on sharing underutilized assets, from spaces to skills to stuff, for monetary or non-monetary benefits.” They often involve platforms that enable the exchange of services between peers or businesses. Arun Sundarajan explains the sharing economy somewhat differently: “What is new, in the “sharing economy,” is that you are not helping a friend for free; you are providing these services to a stranger for money.” He describes this as “crowd-based capitalism.”
WIPO Special Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Traditional...
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s specialist committee charged with negotiating text-based instrument(s) for the effective protection of Genetic Resources (GRs), Traditional Knowledge (TK), and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs), on Friday June 16 2017 concluded its 34th session with partial agreement on its mandate and on the fate of the committee and its work program.
Canada’s 2017 Copyright Review: Reflections on the Congress 2017
By Sileshi Hirko
Introduction
The last week of May 2017 was a week of great academic activity in Canada, Congress 2017. This event is run by...
Highlighting Inclusion of Marginalized Voices at International Conferences: A NERG’s experience
By Nicole Tumaine
Over the past four months, I have had the privilege of attending three international conferences as a panelist thanks to the generous...
Egypt’s New Investment Law: Creating Better Opportunities for Small Businesses?
By Sarah El Saeed
The Egyptian Government has begun in pushing through a fiscal and monetary reform plan that includes various unpopular austerity measures. In...
The Open African Innovation Research Partnership Transition Workshop
By Dana Elbashbishy
On the 8th of February
2018, members of the Open African Innovation Research Partnership (Open AIR) gathered
in Accra, Ghana to share research...
L’innovation au service de l’informel à l’ère de la COVID-19
Par : Abdelhamid Benhmade
La COVID-19, et si nous en profitons pour renouer des liens plus étroits avec l’informel? Nombreuses sont les personnes frappées de...
The Many Faces of Scholarly Communications
By Nagham El Houssamy
The FORCE11 Scholarly Communications Institute was held at the University of California San Diego from 31 July until 4 August 2017....
MENA Observatory on Responsible AI
Open AIR’s North African hub, The Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) at the American University in Cairo’s Onsi Sawiris School of Business,...
