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COVID-19 Pandemic, Leadership and Ownership of Innovation in Africa

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Social and Technological Innovation in Africa

Abstract

The unprecedented global chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made countries around the world to focus on the well-being of their citizens. It questioned globalization and unleased the power of innovation in the search for remedies for the disease in different countries. The lessons learned so far drive home some of the messages in this book for African countries, to invest in practical and sustainable ways of addressing their needs. The chapter also discusses the increasing emphasis on African leadership and ownership of its research and innovation, and the importance of enhanced financial and political commitments toward this goal. It makes the case that African innovation will not be sustainable if it depends largely on external, short-term and fragmented sources of financing. A summary of some pan-African initiatives coordinating research and innovation is presented.

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Notes

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Nwaka, S. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic, Leadership and Ownership of Innovation in Africa. In: Social and Technological Innovation in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0155-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0155-2_11

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