Posts Tagged ‘SGCI’
Kenya’s patent data tells a story we cannot ignore
A landmark analysis of three decades of Kenyan patent data reveals a widening innovation gap that demands urgent policy action, argues Maurice Bolo, director of the Scinnovent Centre, Kenya, with implications that SGCI researchers and policymakers across the continent cannot afford to ignore. As the world marked World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April, Kenya…
Read MoreKenya’s NRF explores research chairs programme
Kenya’s National Research Fund (NRF) is taking early steps toward establishing a national Research Chairs programme in priority sectors, signalling a shift toward more structured, long-term investment in research capacity. A continental partnership for education reform NRF Kenya partnered in the launch of Harnessing Education for Impact in Africa (HERI Africa), joining policymakers, academics, and…
Read MoreHow an app is transforming schistosomiasis control in Ghana
When Gideon Kye-Duodu began work on what would become the MedScale Schisto App, he was not only building a digital tool but confronting a stubborn public health problem, such as schistosomiasis, that refused to yield, despite years of intervention. Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease spread through contaminated freshwater, remained common in riverine and hard-to-reach communities across…
Read MoreHow storytelling is amplifying SGCI-funded innovations
For many researchers, publishing scientific findings in academic journals has long been the primary way to share knowledge. But increasingly, there is recognition that research must also be communicated in ways that reach broader audiences, policymakers, industry partners, communities, and fellow innovators who can translate discoveries into real-world solutions. Across projects funded by the Science…
Read MoreNamibia hosts SGCI meeting as Anicia Peters leads alliance
Namibia is set to take on a prominent leadership role in Africa’s science, technology, and innovation landscape as Anicia Peters, chief executive officer of the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), prepares to assume the Presidency of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Alliance in September 2026. Peters will be inaugurated during the…
Read MoreNamibia launches national research infrastructure survey report
The Namibia National Commission on Research, Science and Technology has officially launched the country’s Research Infrastructure Survey Report, outlining existing research facilities, key gaps, and priority areas for development. The report was presented on 3 March at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek before an audience of stakeholders drawn from government, academia, and industry. NCRST…
Read MoreVoices of SGCI: Council leaders on the direction and ambition of SGCI 3
At the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Addis Ababa, earlier this month, leaders of science granting councils reflected on what SGCI Phase 3 represents for Africa’s science and innovation systems. From ownership and alignment to stewardship and sustainability, here are their voices on what fundamentally changes with SGCI 3 and why this…
Read MoreOne of SGCI’s first members, Malawi, is reaping the rewards
In this interview, Gift Kadzamira, Director-General of Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), outlines the substantial benefits the country’s research ecosystem has gained through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). As an early SGCI member since 2015, Malawi has experienced notable growth and transformation. The initiative has provided essential training that has enhanced…
Read MoreSGCI is Strengthening Research Systems in Africa: A Conversation with Cephas Adjei Mensah, Ghana
African countries are increasingly leveraging regional collaboration to strengthen their research systems and drive socio-economic progress, inspiring hope for the future of the African science community. In an exclusive video interview, Cephas Adjei Mensah, Director for Research, Statistics, and Information Management at Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), discusses how Ghana and…
Read MoreWhat it takes to build adaptive and resilient Councils: A Conversation with Anicia Peters, Namibia
Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research Science and Technology in Namibia was interviewed during the 2024 Annual African Science Granting Councils Meeting in Gaborone, Botswana. Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia, underscores the importance of flexible research funding that adapts to…
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