Forging new socio-technical imaginaries to shape innovation policy for development in Africa

Glenda Kruss

Chapter 11 in A Research Agenda for Innovation and Development, 2026, pp 159-176 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Dominant socio-technical imaginaries centred on ‘modernisation’ and ‘catch up’ are unable to shape innovation policies towards the desired inclusive and sustainable social change in African countries. Widespread commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and STI Strategy for Africa represents a potential shift, but how innovation policy frameworks can build local capabilities for change processes remains under-specified. The chapter proposes five critical dimensions towards framing a new socio-technical imaginary. 1. Adopt a decolonisation narrative, informed by a political economy lens on the contexts of heterogeneous countries. 2. Align policies towards technological upgrading that can facilitate local systems building, as a precondition for insertion into global value chains. 3. Build new innovation and production systems that exploit opportunities inherent in technologies for meeting human needs for shelter, food, energy, water, and health. 4. Build local capabilities and systems that enable the inclusion of informal enterprises. 5. Utilise the creativity of local languages, knowledges, and cultures for solutions belonging to African agents.

Keywords: Socio-technical Imaginaries; Innovation Policy; Inclusive and Sustainable Development; Africa; Technological Upgrading; Local Capabilities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035344338
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