Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Reports

The Innovation for Development (INNO4DEV) sub-committee of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) commissioned an in-house study on international initiatives whose main purpose is to uplift needy rural communities out of poverty and unemployment. To this end, we scanned the literature to identifysuccessful projects and programmes whose effectiveness depends on   Innovative technology and products together with the right kind of social and economic support for the intended beneficiaries Operations and activities that could be easily adapted and implemented under South African conditions Outcomes that would improve the lives of, in particular, our poorest citizens by providing jobs and increasing food security.

The Science Technology Innovation (STI) Indicators Report seeks to provide information about the National System of Innovation (NSI) using the South African Innovation Scorecard (SAIS), which consists of the following elements:i. Framework conditions-cover three innovation dimensions, i.e. human resources, attractive research systems and an innovation-friendly environment.ii. Investments include public and private investment in research, development and innovation (RDI) and cover two dimensions, i.e. finance and support, and firm investments.iii. Innovation activities-consisting of three dimensions, i.e. innovators, linkages and intellectual assets.iv. Outputs-cover two dimensions, i.e. the economy (e.g. technology balance of payments, high technology exports and employment) and society.

The NACI Indicators Reference Group (IRG) encompasses subject experts actively working in the field of monitoring and evaluation pertaining to the performance of the National System of Innovation (NSI). The work of the IRG is supported by members of the NACI Secretariat, who prepared this report for the NACI Council, and to whom the members want to express their sincere appreciation. Sound measurement of innovation is crucial in policy formulation and implementation, assisting policy makers on several points: evaluating the efficiency of policies, in addition to monitoring spending in this regard, assessing the contribution of innovation to achieving social and economic objectives. Reporting on the measurement of innovation serves to legitimise public intervention by enhancing public accountability. The South African Science and Technology Indicators 2010, an update of the 2009 report, provides an overall picture of South Africa’s national system of innovation by presenting statistical data relating to trends and performance. This report should be seen as a collection of the core innovation indicators and includes extensive data obtained from a wide spectrum of data analysts and performance evaluators.