How badly do we need a new generation of Innovation Intermediaries in South Africa?

While we frequently hear reference made to the ‘South African National System of Innovation’ (SANSI), we must question the reality of this in comparison with other emerging economies, including the other members of BRICS. One serious gap, in my opinion, can be identified as the continued fragmentation of the NSI and the immature status and recognition of the role of ‘neutral innovation facilitators’ or ‘innovation intermediaries’.

COFISA, which ended in 2010, showed the power of such an approach, but this momentum has dissipated over the past 2 years. It is significant that worldwide, science and technology parks (STPs) have emerged as key role players in this intermediary position and are often developed as instruments of innovation policy implementation. Most of South Africa’s innovation policy implementation instruments, however, focus on funding, which is often addressing research rather than supporting innovation dominantly driven by private sector initiative. The critically needed neutral support and mentorship for entrepreneurs involved with technological innovation is in very short supply.
Our track record on STP developments in South Africa spanning some 30 years, while often starting with a correctly focused vision and programme, seem to transform into real estate or business park developments long before they reach their potential, having lost all the value-adding emphasis. We have been exposed to all the international developments in STPs, even hosting the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference in Johannesburg in 2008, but little has changed amongst our policy makers, at all levels, who still adopt too short a view to allow the necessary building blocks to mature.

The question I pose is whether there remains a need for such intermediaries in our Innovation System who can, in a neutral manner, facilitate the traditional triple (or multi-) helix focus, as well as to encourage emerging trends such as open innovation, co-creation, crowd sourcing networking (e.g. SAINe), etc. If so, how do we influence our country’s policy and decision makers, as well as the current operational people, to engage in the much needed development of an integrated system which actually drives innovation and supports the many great emerging ideas all the way to the market, or to contribute to equally important social innovation initiatives?

I encourage you to comment and start a constructive and dynamic discussion on this critical topic.

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