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Innovation in a Changing South Africa: Extant Debates and Critical Reflections

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The Geography of South Africa

Part of the book series: World Regional Geography Book Series ((WRGBS))

Abstract

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 as research and policy foci in relation to innovation, emerge.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support of the DST that funded our participation in some of the cited research projects from which our analysis and arguments are drawn. We also acknowledge colleagues in the Economic Performance and Development (EPD) unit at the HSRC who collaborated with us on these projects and some of whom also took the photos included in this chapter: Peter Jacobs, Kgabo Ramoroka, Sikhulumile Sinyolo, Alexandra Mhula Links, Siyanda Jonas, Bhekiwe Fakudze and Setsoheng Mayeki. We thank Johann Booyens, Gina Weir-Smith and S’bo Zama for assistance with the map. This is our own original work and the views expressed are ours and do not reflect those of any other party.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa

    Irma Booyens & Tim G. B. Hart

  2. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Irma Booyens

  3. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Tim G. B. Hart

Authors
  1. Irma Booyens
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  2. Tim G. B. Hart
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Correspondence to Irma Booyens .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, Archaeology & Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Jasper Knight

  2. School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Christian M. Rogerson

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Booyens, I., Hart, T.G.B. (2019). Innovation in a Changing South Africa: Extant Debates and Critical Reflections. In: Knight, J., Rogerson, C. (eds) The Geography of South Africa . World Regional Geography Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94974-1_29

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