Biosciences Innovation Policy Consortium for Eastern Africa

(BIPCEA)

Towards a Bio-economy in Eastern Africa

Julius Ecuru

29/9/11

Kampala, Uganda

Project Team1.Uganda National Council for Science and Technology

2. National Council for Science and Technology, Kenya

3. Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology

4. Department of Science and Technology, Rwanda

5. Ministry of Science and Technology, FR of Ethiopia

6. Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

7. Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden

9. African Technology Policy Studies Network

10. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications-Africentre, Nairobi

11. International Livestock Research Institute

Background

• Eastern African states seek to transform into middle income countries as soon as possible.

• How? Invest in science, technology and innovation;

But would be strategic to prioritize investing in bioscience innovations, and foster a bio-economy in the region.

Background …• Already, modern

bioscience innovations are promising, e.g.:

• Improving cultivars for small farming systems

• Opening up opportunities for value addition & agro-processing

• Improving waste management, and

• Tapping the bio-energy potential

• BIPCEA to support these efforts

Challenge

Increasing production

Adding value

• Market• Jobs• Economic growth• etc

BIPCEA Goal is…

• to provide policy support services that will enable Bio-Innovate projects in Eastern Africa to successfully bring their technologies and business ideas to market.

Bio-Innovate Innovation

Projects

1. Evaluate policy

support needs

3. Build competencies (tools)

2. Establish platform for interaction

BIPCEA Objectives

Expected key outputs

1. Evaluating policy support needs– Case studies on Bio-Innovate projects. – A review of STI policies in EA. – A review of seed certification system in EA. – A review of bio-safety frameworks of the EA. – A assessment of the access & benefit sharing regime in

EA.

2. Establish a platform for interaction– Two high-level regional conferences on bioscience

innovations and policies in EA.– 18 annual national policy round-tables in EA

countries.– 45 partnership meetings in all Bio-Innovate

countries.– A flagship publication on bioscience innovation

system and the emerging bio-economy in EA.

3. Building competencies (tools)– Entrepreneurship skills training for 150 scientists (tech

licensing & business planning).– Assessment of IP assets of Bio-Innovate partner

organizations, & Freedom-to-Operate for Bio-Innovate projects.

– Sensitization of 80 Bio-Innovate scientists on IP.– Science communication skills training for 100 scientists.– 12 institutional IP policies for Bio-Innovate organizations.– 1,500 laboratory note books for Bio-Innovate partner

project teams.

Expected outcomes

1. Bio-Innovate partner organizations increasingly develop and commercialize their bioscience innovations; and

2. Policies, strategies and actions to promote bioscience innovations are generally more prominent in the policy and development agenda in Eastern Africa.

Methodology

• BIPCEA will use participatory approaches and action oriented analysis:-

– involving Bio-Innovate project partners as well as other relevant bioscience-related programs in the region.

– taking an innovation systems approach in executing project activities.

Budget

Approved budget = US$ 980,175 for three years

Conclusion

• BIPCEA is a regional mechanism to support bioscience innovation in Eastern Africa, ultimately fostering a bio-economy in the region, with measurable social, economic and environmental benefits.

Quote

• “It is no secret that Africa’s history has been marked by a development narrative in which the benefits from science, technology and innovation have been enjoyed by few, instead of being seen as tools for the development of all citizens. Today this is changing and Africa’s leaders view science, technology and innovation as critical to human development, global competitiveness and ecological management.”

• Calestous Juma, 2010

Thank you