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“What continues to handicap Africa is its lack of mastery of modern science. Without advanced competency, [African] nations cannot harness the full power of scientific research and technological tools to solve the many health, energy and development challenges confronting them,” wrote Nkem Khumbah, a coordinator of the Stem-Africa Initiative, in The New York Times.
But where do you start? On a continent where success stories often struggle to be heard over news of death, destruction and disease, how does investing in innovation through technology and research become a priority?
It’s been almost 30 years ago since The African Academy of Science was founded and the number of African-led initiatives supporting the next generation of researchers is growing with projects like The Next Einstein Initiative laying the foundations for a stronger African scientific community. What lessons can be learned from these and other projects? Is enough being done to develop more health technologies in Africa?
Many barriers remain before large scale scientific research and development can, and is, taking off in Africa. In 1980, as part of the Lagos Plan of Action adopted by the African Union’s predecessor African governments pledged to spend 1% of GDP on research, a goal that was restated in 2003. However, of the 54 member nations of the African Union, only South Africa, Uganda and Malawi have achieved anything close to this.
Where should African innovators look to secure funding for projects? How can the education focus shift from basic literacy to advanced chemistry? How can innovators work with governments, universities and the private sector to establish a bigger role for African health technologies?
Join the discussion on Thursday, 28 August, from 1-3pm BST.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or @GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.
Panel
Professor Kwabena Bosompem, president of the Community Directed Development Foundation, Camberra, Australia @cddfpresident
Kwabena is a parasitologist and an associate professor at the Nogudhi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana.
Professor Vincent Titanji, honorary dean & former vice-chancellor at the University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Vincent is a TWAS professor of biotechnology for the lowest developed countries, interested in the control of tropical diseases.
Dr Abdhalah Ziraba, associate research scientist, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya, @akziraba @aphrc
Abdhalah is a Ugandan public health researcher, working on maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and health systems strengthening.
Sir Christopher Edwards, trustee, The Planet Earth Institute, London, UK, @PlanetEarthInst
Sir Christopher was the first principal of Imperial College School of Medicine and is a former chairman of Medical Education England.
Dipika Matthias, senior advisor and project director, Global Health Innovation Hub, Path, Seattle, USA, @PATHtweets
Dipika works on PATH’s new strategic initiative to accelerate access to lifesaving technologies by broadening partnerships with local innovators.
Dr Solomon Nwaka, executive director of the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
Solomon has written on drug R&D, public-private partnerships, and innovative ways to stimulate health product R&D in developing countries.
Professor Rui Krause, head of chemistry department at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Researcher in nanomaterials and organic chemistry.
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