African research and development surveys: Highlights from the South African success story

ABSTRACT

Science and technology have a major role to play in current and future developments on the African continent as a whole. With the vast array of developmental challenges, current thinking needs to be expanded, so that technologies provide increased and enhanced solutions, such that African scientists produce an African response to the very many shared challenges affecting Africa – both as individual nations and as regards African people collectively. Key to developing an integrated science and technology network, within and across nations, is firstly to understand the extent of research and development (R&D) currently undertaken within individual territories and on the continent as a whole. In light of this, the article examines the value and importance of national surveys of research and experimental development undertaken in Africa. Within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), many member states now have dedicated departments overseeing state science and technology (S&T) development initiatives. South Africa has the most developed science and technology system on the continent. In recent years, other SADC countries like Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia have initiated projects to measure R&D activities within their territories. Despite this, further North, R&D measurement on the continent is uncommon, both as a result and as a cause of underdevelopment.

The article explores the limited data from selected African R&D surveys in an attempt to understand measurement issues that exist and to detail the value and importance of mapping S&T systems and their applications to developmental issues in Africa. In countries like Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, where S&T systems exist, effective means of measurement need to be established, so that the power of these systems can be harnessed, shared and exploited to benefit the African people. To this end, the African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) initiative was set up at a meeting in Addis Ababa with the aim of delivering a survey of these countries’ R&D output and potential. This is eagerly awaited by the African S&T community.

At the forefront of African R&D measurement is the South African national R&D survey, administered by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Being an established survey, the South African team is often called upon by other African nations to support the setting up of surveys. The HSRC also trains visiting African scientists in the delivery of accurate and reliable R&D survey data. This article will, for the first time, present detailed results of the most recent South African national R&D survey (2008/2009), together with a trend analysis of historic South African R&D surveys.     

东亚安全:合作模式与结构

在安全体簇生的东亚地区,并存有美国主导的东亚联盟体系式安全合作、东盟地区主义式安全合作、中国倡行的多边协治式安全合作等三种安全合作模式,其中,美国的东亚联盟体系式安全合作模式在复合型的东亚安全结构中占据主导地位,而东盟和中国所倡行的安全合作模式,还停留在安全合作观念倡导和通过集体联合来尝试性建构地区制度性安全纽带的层面。东亚地区所存在的三种安全合作模式之间,是一种不平等的权力相互制衡关系。再加上地区范围内大国间的结构性对抗和潜在冲突,东亚安全困境的产生和存在成为必然。东亚目前不具备建构地区多边安全合作机制的可能,三种安全合作模式的共存仍将是地区安全结构的主要内容,复合型的安全结构态势将长期存在。     

论吉林村镇银行可持续发展问题

制约当前村镇银行可持续发展的最大障碍是慈善思维方式——农民因为贫穷需要廉价资金。村镇银行发放小额农户贷款被认为是扶贫的手段。村镇银行采取商业化方式,实施高利率小额农户信贷与支持、帮助农村中的贫困群体并不矛盾。完善小额农户贷款还需要信贷员激励机制。村镇银行需要政府扶助,但又要避免地方政府的过度干预,避免政府信用担保的道德风险,这样才能实现可持续发展。     

“公私部门伙伴关系”模式下的开发区基础设施建设

开发区的建设在我国已经得到了蓬勃的发展,与此同时,其基础设施也正在逐步完善。开发区基础设施的完备程度直接决定了招商引资与产业孵化的效果,而基础设施的建设需要大量的资金投入。随着开发区数量和层级的不断提高,仅仅依靠政府自身的力量建设日显捉襟见肘。"公私部门伙伴关系"是公共部门与私营部门合作提供公共产品和公共服务的一种新模式,该模式在开发区基础设施建设领域的应用能弥补政府财政投入的不足,突破限制开发区自身发展的瓶颈。     

莆田书院文化发展对海峡两岸文化交流的历史影响

书院是古代中国学者读书、教书、讲学、著书、刻书和藏书的重要场所,也是文化积累、知识传播与学术研究的教育组织。莆田书院文化创立于南北朝时期,发展于唐,繁荣于宋,鼎盛于明,转化于清。莆田书院文化的创立与发展,不但为地方营造了一种从师习儒、读书仕进的良好氛围,而且为莆田文献名邦的形成奠定了坚实的基础。莆田书院文化的繁荣与发展,不但促进了莆田乃至福建的文化教育事业发展,而且使偏僻之地发展成为文化发达的海滨邹鲁。莆田书院文化的传承与传播,不但赢来了进士之乡的美誉,造就了一个庞大的莆田仕人群体,而且对闽台文化的交流与发展,以及对台湾岛内的教育、科举和文化事业发展都产生了深刻影响。     

浅析印度尼西亚互联网的发展

印度尼西亚互联网的发展始于20世纪80年代。起初,互联网的应用仅限于少数研究机构。随着印尼互联网商业化的发展,印尼网站数量和网民人数均有较大增长。但是由于印尼互联网基础设施发展不平衡、互联网法规不健全以及互联网接入费用相对过高,印尼要实现互联网的广泛普及仍然有很长的一段路要走。     

合适成年人参与讯问制度浅析

2012年我国新刑事诉讼法确立了合适成年人参与讯问制度。合适成年人参与讯问制度体现了程序先行的理念以及儿童最大利益和双向保护的原则。鉴于法律规定的笼统性、司法实践的不统一,为了切实有效地实施这一制度,应当从合适成年人的资格、选任的主体、参与的程序、法律效力和经费保障等方面完善合适成年人在场制度。     

浅谈消防部队建立新型经费保障机制的途径

目前,消防经费严重不足与经济、社会高速发展的矛盾,已成为制约消防部队发展的关键问题。为此,应积极探索建立消防部队新型经费保障机制的途径。     

从关沙酮维持治疗的发展与演变对相关问题的思考

美沙酮维持疗法（MMT）从产生到现在,经历了兴衰起伏的演变与发展。在目前情况下,MMT是解决阿片类依赖者复吸和减低艾滋病传播风险的有效方法。本文根据MMT的演变历程,提出了对当前国内MMT认识误区的相关思考。     

论新形势下的上海警辅队伍建设

警辅队伍在协助公安机关维护社会治安和公共秩序等方面发挥着十分重要的作用。上海各级公安机关需要积极争取地方党委政府的重视支持,积极推动警辅队伍向法治化、集约化、规范化、社会化方向发展,全面提升上海警辅队伍的整体素质和综合战斗力。