|
Abstract:
|
This report looks at the science, technology and innovation system of Malawi and is structured in three main parts.
- Section 1 briefly deals with the national political environment.
- Section 2 presents the key country characteristics, specifically indicators pertaining to the country’s economic, health, education, and information & communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.
- Section 3, which forms the main part of the report, gives an overview and analysis of the science and technology (S&T) system. This section is subdivided into seven thematic subsections covering the governance of S&T, the S&T landscape, S&T human resources, funding, research outputs, technological innovation and lastly international co-operation and networks activities.
There is no doubt that the Malawi government has a clear vision about the contribution of S&T to the socio-economic development of the country. The government recently articulated its intentions in this regard by means of a national S&T policy and a strategic plan for the Department of Science and Technology. However, the means to act upon these intensions appear to be lacking. Apart from limited government funding, considerable delays in the realisation of new organisational structures appear to be the rule rather than the exception.
In addition, from an outsider’s perspective, it is not always clear to what extent an overlap exists in the activities of the main S&T governing bodies. Moreover, if the NRCM were transformed into this commission, a vacuum could be created at the intermediary level of the country’s science system. Institutions at the intermediary level of a national science system normally serve as bridging mechanisms between the practice and governance of science. They facilitate dual communication and interaction where:
- (1) the directions set by science policy-makers are translated and made practical for the research community and
- (2) the needs and activities of the research community are communicated to policy-makers to inform current and new strategies.
The existence of intermediaries is crucial to the efficient functioning of any national science system.Of further concern is the current low level of innovation capacity – with obvious ramifications for future innovative ability – as reflected by the small number of postgraduate students.
The lack of a critical mass of doctoral graduates over the last decade remains a serious problem. Moreover, Malawi not only has to bridge the gap between higher education supply and industry demand by introducing interface mechanisms but also need to build capacity in both the higher education and industry sectors. In this regard, South Africa can play a valuable role, especially in relation to building capacity in science domains and industrial spheres that are of crucial importance to the development of the Malawi economy, such as fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, water resources, and renewable energies. |