Great expectations: the state of biotechnology research and development in South Africa
SOURCE: African Journal of Biotechnology
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2008
TITLE AUTHOR(S): M.Gastrow
KEYWORDS: BIOTECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5075
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9133
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9133
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2008
TITLE AUTHOR(S): M.Gastrow
KEYWORDS: BIOTECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5075
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9133
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9133
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
As biotechnology industries are knowledge-intensive, Research and Experimental Development (R and D) are key drivers of growth. Governments and businesses have an interest in creating an environment that stimulates R and D and the commercialisation thereof. Discourse relating to the best means to support biotechnology R and D is extensive. However, there has to date a paucity of quantitative data describing biotechnology R and D in South Africa. This paper therefore offers a brief quantitative profile of South Africa's biotechnology R and D. These findings provide key indicators of scale, scope, ownership, sectorial division, geographical distribution and collaborative structure. Bibliometric and patent data are used, as well as data sourced from the National Survey of Research and Experimental Development Inputs. It is found that South Africa?s biotechnology R and D investment is small by international standards, but a leader in the African context. There are moreover certain collaborative networks, geographical clusters, and industry applications that demonstrate a high concentration of R and D, which may indicate a path towards achieving critical mass in these areas. Finally, the 2005/6 data used here may be used as baseline data to monitor and evaluate the national 2008 National Biotechnology strategy.-
Related Research Outputs:
- National survey of research and experimental development (R&D) (2001/2): High-level key results
- Flight of the flamingos: a study on the mobility of R&D workers
- South African research and development: preliminary results and indicators from the latest survey
- Developments in R & D in post-colonial South Africa: findings from a recent national survey
- What's happening to R&D?
- South African study on the mobility of R&D workers - implications for the project on careers of doctorate holders
- The changing face of South Africa's national system of innovation, 1991-2001
- The knowledge of numbers: S&T, R&D and innovation indicators in South Africa
- Supply to the R&D system: broadening the base
- The history of research and experimental development measurement in South Africa and some current perspectives
- The changing nature of research and development inputs in the South African higher education sector: findings from the national research and experimental development survey
- Open for business: observations on the R&D behavior of South African firms
- Measuring innovation in OECD and non-OECD countries: selected seminar papers
- The state of research and experimental development: moving to a higher gear
- The noledge of numbers: S&T, R&D and innovation indicators in South Africa
- National survey of research and experimental development (R&D) (2003/04 fiscal year): high-level key results
- National survey of research & development 2003/2004: provisional report on the sectors
- R & D matters
- Progress with the South African Innovation survey 2005
- After apartheid: the South African national system of innovation: from constructed crisis to constructed advantage?