Brar, Sukhdeep; Farley, Sara E.; Hawkins, Robert; Wagner, Caroline S.
Description:
Between 2006 and 2010 the World Bank
sought to unmask the role of science, technology, and
innovation in Ugandan industry. This report presents
insights from this research based on case studies of six
sectors: agriculture, health, energy, information and
communication technology (ICT), transport, and logistics.
Based on more than 80 interviews cutting across
Uganda's small and medium-sized enterprises,
universities, and government entities, the report's
findings are intended to offer the government and its
partners in industry increased clarity about how better to
harness science, technology, and innovation to propel the
economy. Enabling implementation of the recent Uganda
national science, technology, and innovation policy is a
parallel goal of the report. The policy articulates the
government's intent to foster research and development
that builds the human capital that Uganda requires for a
knowledge-based economy. The case studies from which this
report's recommendations are drawn depict a diverse
range of experiences across industrial sectors in terms of
generating, applying, and adapting science and technology to
contribute to Uganda's development. Despite the
relatively small size of the country's investments in
science and technology, the past 20 years have seen
considerable advances in building capacity in science and
technology, developing related institutions and human
resources, advancing collaboration and communication, and
expanding the base of available knowledge. But given
Uganda's limited investments in science and technology,
policies should prioritize near-term investments that
benefit key sectors. This report identifies those near-term
investments as well as longer-term ones (three to five years
in the future).