ECOWAS Policy on Science and Technology: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:24, 13 March 2023

Revision as of 14:38, 17 April 2023

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The regional policy advocates the development of a science culture in all sectors of society, including through science popularization, the dissemination of research results in local and international journals, the commercialization of research results, greater technology transfer, intellectual property protection, stronger university–industry ties and the enhancement of traditional knowledge.<ref name=":0" />

ECOPOST encourages countries ''inter aliaalign'' to:<ref name=":0" />

* raise gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) to 1% of GDP, as recommended by the [[African Union]] in 2003; in 2013, research intensity averaged 0.3% in West Africa;

* define their own research priorities, so that researchers are working on topics of national interest rather than those proposed by donors;

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* put in place a national fund for local innovators which would also help them protect their intellectual property rights;

* adapt university curricula to local industrial needs;

* develop small research and training units in key industrial fields, such as lasers, fibrefiber optics, biotechnology, composite materials and pharmaceuticals;

* equip research laboratories, including with information and communication technologies;

* establish science and technology parks and business incubators;