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News

posted 15 May 2008

African knowledge initiative begins with . . . knowledge

At the launch of the Knowledge for Africa’s Development Book last month, Department of Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena recalled a 2006 conference in South Africa, where dialogue was aimed at empowering African policy and decision makers in the formulation of strategies to promote knowledge-based economic growth on the continent.

The department is currently working together with Finland’s government on two projects aimed at strengthening the South African national system of innovation, and the other is how to utilise information communication technologies for economic and sustainable development.

Execution, not intent drives the innovation vision

A survey of 601 senior executives in the US, UK, Germany and Canada by Accenture found that innovation is a top corporate priority, but it also indicates that more senior-level accountability, greater CEO involvement and improved speed-to-market execution can help companies deliver on their promise of innovation and boost their competitiveness.

While nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) said their organisation’s business strategy is either totally or largely dependent on innovation, only 21 per cent said their companies have a chief innovation executive.

The findings indicate the challenge of innovation for organisations is not commitment and intent but rather execution of the vision.