Publication

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.

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.

Authored by: Jeremy de Beer, Shirin Elahi, Yvonne Ndelle This Working Paper 30 sets out the details of Open AIR's 2010-13 scenario-building process and the...

In 2018 the theme of Open AIR's Annual Report is "Insights on scaling African innovation". We aim to solve a scalability problem at the heart...

Authored by: Oluseye Oladayo Jegede and Olubukola Esther Jegede Abstract: This study contributes to the growing literature on innovation capability in the informal sector in...

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.

Tobias Schonwetter and Bram van Wiele contributed a chapter in The Cambridge Handbook of Copyright in Street Art and Graffiti, examining how South African...

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...

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.

This report features Open AIR researchers’ extensive recent outputs—including books, book chapters, journal articles, reports, policy engagements, conference presentations, and blogs—in five thematic clusters,...