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Public-Private Partnership in Research and Innovation

The 2017 Annual Forum on “Effective Public-Private Partnerships in Research and Innovation” was held in Livingstone, Zambia, from November 22–23, 2017, bringing together 120 participants from 25 countries. Key figures included Heads of Research Councils, researchers, policymakers, private sector actors, and civil society representatives. The forum was inaugurated by Zambia’s Minister for Education, Prof. Nkandu Luo, who emphasized the importance of research in policy-making and urged the scientific community to engage more proactively with policymakers. She also criticized the private sector’s limited role in national development, calling for stronger partnerships to translate research into practical technologies.

The forum, guided by a commissioned paper by Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, addressed key issues such as research prioritization, institutional governance, funding models, and political economy contexts. Discussions highlighted the challenges of aligning public and private sector research priorities, the need for improved institutional governance, and the importance of mobilizing domestic resources for research and innovation. Lessons from countries like the Netherlands and Costa Rica were shared, alongside experiences from Africa.

The forum concluded with the recognition that public-private partnerships are vital for advancing research and innovation in Africa. Participants agreed to continue the conversation and encouraged the Science Granting Councils to take a leading role in fostering such partnerships. Recommendations were made for further engagement and action by relevant stakeholders.

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