Scaling Innovation: How Open Collaborative Models Help Scale Africa’s Knowledge-Based Enterprises
Drawing from more than 20 case studies of open, collaborative innovation in Africa, Open AIR has identified numerous dimensions of, and approaches to, enterprise-scaling. These case study findings are the core of Open AIR’s newest report, Scaling Innovation: How Open Collaborative Models Help Scale Africa s Knowledge-based Enterprises.
Science, Technology & Innovation and Intellectual Property
2020 was an eventful year for the whole world, as a public health and economic crisis raged, bringing to the fore the perennial challenge of how to craft and use Intellectual Property (IP) institutions, law, policies and practices, collectively ‘IP frameworks’ to add to efforts to achieve sustainable development, and to consider recovery paths for economies. This coincided with intensified efforts to boost intra-African trade and enhance regional integration through the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)and the entry of the US into negotiations for a bilateral FTA with Kenya. This book engages with this challenge in its six chapters.
Leap 4.0 – African Perspectives on the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The 4IR is well established in many parts of the world, with technological advances driving profound social and economic change. However, for many developing countries, particularly countries in Africa, the 4IR may not offer the anticipated 'leap' forward.
This book seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities the 4IR presents to South Africa and the rest of the African continent, especially to workers and marginalised sectors of society.
Annual Report 2019
The Open AIR network moved into a new phase of research – we refocused our research questions based on the results of our initial activities and rescoped emerging priorities for our next three years.
Working around the Gender Gap in Intellectual Property Regimes: Empowerment of...
Authored by: Desmond Osaretin Oriakhogba
Abstract : This case study explored the empowerment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property (IP) dynamics at play in the work...
Power Relations, Innovation, Scaling, and Knowledge Governance at Three Egyptian Tech...
Authored by: Nagham ElHoussamy, Nadine Weheba, and Nagla Rizk
Abstract: This Working Paper offers an initial exploration of innovation realities at technology hubs in...
Skills Development, Knowledge and Innovation at Suame Magazine, Kumasi
Authored by: Yaw Adu-Gyamfi and Benson Adjei
Abstract: The informal-sector industrial cluster of Suame Magazine in Kumasi constitutes a major avenue for training, innovation, and knowledge-sharing...
Modes of Innovation and Enterprise Development by Nairobi’s Mobile Tech Startups
Authored by: Victor Nzomo, Jacquiline Mwangi, Louisa Matu-Mureithi, Caroline Wanjiru Muchiri, and Isaac Rutenberg
Abstract: This paper sets out findings from research into innovation dynamics...
The Maker Movement in Gauteng Province, South Africa
This paper sets out findings from research into the dynamics of the emerging “maker” movement in South Africa’s Gauteng Province. The authors position the maker movement as a potentially strong contributor to, and manifestation of, informal-sector innovation on the African continent.
A Data Commons for Food Security
Agricultural data is globally recognized for its importance in addressing food insecurity. We propose a ‘data commons’, formed through a licensing model that allows farmers to benefit from the datasets to which they contribute.