Evidence from surveys and case studies: What we know and what we do not know about industrial innovation in South Africa (original) (raw)

Innovation in a changing South Africa: extant debates and critical reflections

2019

Economic and social imperatives of innovation are increasingly becoming intertwined and important, especially in the global South. While South Africa has a nucleus of innovating enterprises, key challenges with respect to poverty and underdevelopment remain. During recent decades, South Africa has experienced a marked decline in the traditional and employment-intensive sectors along with growth in service sectors. However, growth in low-productivity service sectors accounts for most employment growth. It is noted that regional innovation networks are scarce and predominantly found in major cities. A decline in the traditional employment-intensive and largely rural-based sectors of mining and agriculture, along with attempts to redress the socio-economic consequences of apartheid, resulted in a policy emphasis on innovation in distressed rural areas to enhance local economic development and public service delivery. It is concluded that skewed spatial patterns of innovation, as well a...

R&D as a source of innovation in South Africa

Management of Engineering & …, 2008

In investigating the link between R&D and innovation, data was used from the South African Innovation Survey of 2001 (SAIS2001). The SAIS2001 results showed that South African enterprises had a relatively high level of innovation with a low level of R&D related innovation costs. A cross tabulation was performed and a statistically significant link between innovation and R&D was found. The group of firms who innovated had a higher tendency to conduct R&D. Universities or Public Research Organisations (PROs) -the 'conventional' sources of R&D -was rated mostly as unimportant external sources of innovation. This is ascribed to the fact that most R&D that is conducted internally is at the experimental development level and requires little basic or applied research. Sectors also differ in their use of R&D as a source of innovation.

SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW REPORT: An analysis of the manufacturing innovation policies of United Kingdom, Germany and South Korea and what lessons can be drawn for South Africa by

The Review sought to understand the innovation policy experiences of South Korea, Germany and United Kingdom with particular emphasis on the manufacturing sector. The main objective was to provide high level lessons that for South Africa's manufacturing innovation policy landscape. After setting out the context, research questions and objectives of this research, we describe the research method undertaken in the compilation of this literature survey. A total of 37 data sources were consulted. The South Korean innovation policy environment is characterised by high spending for research and development, particularly by the private sector, strong political support for innovation and a high performance culture backed by a highly educated workforce. The German innovation system is built on mittelands, which form the underpinning mechanism for German innovation and ingenuity. The system places a strong emphasis on collaboration between industry and research with the German dual education system enabling people to gain skills in competencies that are directly sought by industry. Germany also makes use of place-based innovation where the innovation instruments are implemented based on regional strengths for competitive niches. Even though the UK has lost its leadership position in the world, many of their pocket of excellence such a world class universities and research institutions are still the bedrock of innovation capacity and competency building. number Author Type of Source Methodology Analysis and Results Conclusions

Modes of Innovation and the Evolution of the South African National System of Innovation

2009

This paper uses the concepts of means of innovation and modes of innovation to introduce an alternative approach to the understanding of the evolution of the South African system of innovation. Modes of innovation are defined in terms of ownership and control patterns of the means of innovation, as well as the role played by human capital. The relationship between ideology and modes of innovation is briefly examined. This paper lays the basis for an alternative approach to the analysis of the transition of South Africa's economic structure from apartheid to democracy and of the rifts and continuities in that transition. JEL codes: B52; O10; O55

The Role of Technology Commercialisation in the Operationalisation of Innovation and Industrial Policies in South Africa

Triple Helix

Innovation has been and continues to be recognised as central to promoting and supporting sustainable economic development; as such, South Africa has set the goal of becoming a knowledge economy. This is an economy that succeeds in producing knowledge and transforming itself into a technology-based from a resource-based economy that will stimulate growth and development of the country, while creating sustainable employment opportunities. The two key policies designed to drive strategic economic development in South Africa are the Innovation Policy and the Industrial Policy. This article considers the role of technology commercialisation strategy and how it can be utilised as a model for cooperation and collaboration to ensure achievement of the objectives of the innovation and industrial policies and present a homogeneous approach to policy implementation. The data was collected through a field survey of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME s) which are technological oriented. ...

Identifying the strength and weaknesses of the South African tech-based industries: Insights from the Swiss South African business development programme

African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 2019

Previous studies have considered the importance of technological development to economic growth, which lead to more research on policy interventions that would promote innovation and technological development. However, developing new technologies without a vehicle or mechanism to deliver the technologies to the marketplace implies that the impact of new innovations and technologies will be limited. Consequently, research that investigates the development of techentrepreneurs, the conduits who deliver new technologies to the market place, forms a crucial component in developing policies that link innovation to economic growth in today's modern, knowledge-based economies. This study therefore considers the outcome of the training provided by the Swiss-South African Venture Leader Programme. By using the results from the Tech-Entrepreneurship Survey, which was administered by the authors, this study provides a review of South African tech-entrepreneurs' views on tech-based concepts, South African tech-based industries within a global framework, as well as the tech-entrepreneurs' reflections on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the South African tech-based sector. The latter views provide an insight for policymakers as to areas where the South African tech-based sector can be assisted.

Science and Public Policy February 2011 Are small, medium-and micro-sized enterprises engines of innovation? The reality in South Africa

This paper examines the relationship between innovation activity and firm size in the South African context. Based on data from the National Innovation Survey (2002–2004) the paper looks in particular at the nature of innovation by small, medium-and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). The main finding is that the innovation rate of SMMEs is relatively high, with small enterprises reporting the highest innovation rate. A limited dependent variable regression, however, determines a negative statistically significant relationship between the probability to innovate and firm size. SMMEs are therefore not more innovative than large enterprises in South Africa. This paper identifies innovative entrepreneurs and micro enterprises as important foci for entrepreneurship and innovation policy.

Innovation and the Development Nexus: Prospects from Rural Enterprises in South Africa

Africanus: Journal of Development Studies

The purpose of South Africa’s White Paper on Science and Technology was to set South Africa on a path away from its historically exclusive and relatively dysfunctional National System of Innovation to one more inclusive in its representation and dealings with civil society, the private sector and the marginalised – particularly the poor. Despite the links of subsequent science, technology and innovation policies and strategies to development outcomes, the focus on the poor was notably overlooked. In the decade since the White Paper was released, the gradual and minimal ‘trickle-down benefits’ of innovation failed to address increasing inequality, unemployment and subsequent poverty across South Africa. Evidence from our study of four rural district municipalities, using a purposively designed snowball sampling approach, indicates that current innovation activities in these areas appear prominent in the service or tertiary economic sector. This evidence reinforces prevailing ...