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79TH UN General Assembly Science Summit @ UNGA79

Are we using the right metrics? Towards a research agenda for measuring how innovation drives the SDGs in Africa
13 September 2024

Increasingly, African states recognise the significance of science, technology and innovation (STI) measurement for assessing progress towards the SDGs, STI Strategy for Africa (STISA) targets, and monitoring STI policy achievements at country level. A concern is that STI measurement is heavily reliant on concepts and theories transposed from the experience of high-income countries, begging the question of relevance.

This session therefore attempts to fill the gap, while working towards the goal of creating contextually relevant STI indicators. The session contributors share the premise that we require a stronger empirical and conceptual research base and agenda, to inform shifting of policy and measurement objectives. From a range of country contexts, the speakers critically interrogate and evaluate what we should be measuring, as evidence for innovation and development policy oriented to achieve the SDGs in African country contexts, and across the global South.

MODERATOR: Lukovi Seke, Science Technology Innovation Unit, AUDA-NEPAD

  • Steering science, technology and innovation towards the SDGs, John Mugabe, University of
    Pretoria, South Africa
  • Do we measure what should be measured? Towards a research agenda for measuring how innovation drives the SDGs in Africa, Glenda Kruss and Il-haam Petersen, CeSTII, HSRC, South
    Africa; Maruf Sanni, David Adeyeye and Abiodun Egbetokun, NACETEM, Nigeria
  • Measuring how innovation drives the SDGs in Latin America, Isabel Bortagaray, University of
    Uruguay
  • R&I contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, Hugo Hollanders, UNU-MERIT Maastricht
    University, The Netherlands

Date: 13 September 2024

Time: 11:00am -13:15pm – EDT | New York City and Virtual
11 AM EDT & NY | 5 PM South Africa | 12 PM UYT | 4 PM WAT | 5 PM CEST

Registration: Click here to register