Posts Tagged ‘English’
Navigating Africa’s intellectual property challenges
[GABORONE] Complicated intellectual property (IP) procedures are slowing down innovation in Africa, according to researchers, who say “innovation agencies” must help simplify processes and link researchers to markets. Despite hosting talented innovators and researchers, Africa contributes less than 0.5 per cent of global patent filings annually. Weak IP frameworks and limited coordination between African countries…
Read MoreUganda unlocks value from honey by-product
[GABORONE] When Joel Mukwaya, a biologist and post-graduate student at Uganda’s Makerere University, discovered the immune-boosting benefits of tea made from a honey-by product, he immediately sent some to his grandmother. The tea was made with propolis—a resin-like substance bees use when building their hives “I know of propolis tea’s immune-boosting properties and appetite enhancement,”…
Read MoreWind energy harnessed to solve power shortages in rural Nigeria
[LAGOS] A team of five Nigerian researchers have developed an innovative solution called AirVolt, designed to harness wind energy to generate sustainable electricity for rural communities in northern Nigeria. These areas, often disconnected from the national grid, face significant challenges in accessing essential services such as healthcare, due to unreliable power. Nigeria’s energy landscape has…
Read MoreIndigenous plants support nutrition in Southern Africa
Food recipes developed from indigenous plants and adapted to local climates could improve nutrition and alleviate food shortages in rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers say. The African researchers created products – including jams, juices, syrups, yogurts, and instant soups – using plants such as wild orange, wild medlar, amaranthus, baobab, hibiscus, and violet tree.…
Read MoreMozambique’s new STI policy to drive development
Mozambique’s new science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy will drive economic growth and sustainable development while addressing societal challenges, researchers say. Approved by Mozambique’s cabinet on 21 May, the policy aims to leverage STI to achieve sustainable development and productivity in Mozambique. “The policy represents the government’s commitment to strengthening and building the requisite scientific…
Read MoreUganda fights wheat gap with heat-resistant crop
New climate-resistant wheat varieties developed in Uganda will reduce reliance on foreign exports and support local food production, according to agricultural researchers. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a growing demand for wheat, but rising temperatures are putting yields increasingly at risk. Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is promoting and distributing two new seed varieties,…
Read MoreMalawi aims to boost ethanol production amid challenges
Malawi is working to increase its ethanol production through public-private partnerships in a bid to generate cheaper, cleaner transport fuel, a senior official says. Ethanol, which is made by breaking down the starch in maize kernels into sugar and fermenting it, is less polluting than petrol, producing lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, it also relies…
Read MoreResearch project to enrich Africa’s innovation scene
A new project is addressing Sub-Saharan Africa’s research and innovation challenges, funding gaps and gender imbalances to drive development in the region. The Research and Innovation Management (RIM) project is an initiative of the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) aimed at improving the 17-member councils’ ability to identify, support and manage impactful research and innovation across the countries where the councils are domiciled. The SGCI is a regional effort to promote science and…
Read More