Dr Kwaku Afriyie (arrowed), Minister of Setting, Science, Know-how and Innovation with the individuals
The Ministry of Setting, Science, Know-how and Innovation (MESTI) is engaged on a coverage to mainstream science, expertise and innovation (STI) into all of the productive sectors of the economic system.
The STI coverage which is at present beneath assessment articulates the appliance of scientific data and innovation into the agriculture, training, well being, business, power, water and sanitation sectors for sustainable nationwide improvement.
The Minister of Setting, Science, Know-how and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, who made this identified, stated the main focus of the coverage was to grasp the general strengths and weaknesses of the STI system and decide coverage regime and institutional preparations that the nation wanted to advertise the event agenda.
He famous that the imaginative and prescient of the federal government was to prioritise STI as a result of “proof factors to the truth that the appliance of science and expertise by the adoption of the suitable expertise is vital to reaching nationwide improvement aims.”
Discussion board
The minister acknowledged this at a high-level discussion board organised by MESTI on the implementation of the 2017 UNESCO Suggestions on Science and Scientific Analysis RS/SR for the African sub-region.
The discussion board was organised by MESTI in collaboration with the ECOWAS Fee,
UNESCO, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Analysis Science and Know-how Coverage Analysis Institute (CSIR-STEPRI).
Science should rule
Dr Afriyie stated the compelling issue for the federal government’s efforts to mainstream STI was to industrialise, create jobs and meet the calls for of sustainable improvement, local weather change and inter-generational fairness.
He harassed that it had reached the stage the place the scientific group should play the main position within the quest for nationwide improvement.
“If not for something, the challenges of COVID-19 have additionally supplied alternatives for us as scientists to do extra and stay as much as our duties,” he stated.
Collaboration
The minister noticed that larger training and analysis establishments had key roles to play in making certain a sturdy and sustainable STI coverage.
“Key to that is additionally the position of the non-public sector and the linkages by strengthened partnerships, engagements and technique to propel this agenda,” he stated.
He stated the federal government was making aware effort by the assorted ministries and establishments to reinforce expertise entrepreneurship and incubation.
“Whereas we proceed to do nice issues in our establishments, it’s equally vital for us to work collectively to propagate them and inform the great tales round them to create the wanted platforms for partnership, networks and to unlock non-public capital,” he stated.
He added that there was the necessity to deepen discussions on supporting and enhancing analysis, analysis commercialisation, publications, patents, expertise switch, possession, reaching markets, business science-academia collaboration and the sense of excellence in science continues to take centre stage.
SDGs
For his half, a deputy minister of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, stated the deployment of STI methods was key to the attainment of the sustainable improvement objectives (SDGs)
In view of that he known as for collective motion by each developed and creating international locations to undertake modern methods that may assist to enhance well being and training, cut back inequality and spur financial development.
“Certainly, the 17 SDGs tackle the important thing international challenges of our time. They decide the worldwide plan of action to finish poverty, promote prosperity and well-being, shield the setting and fight local weather change, amongst others.
He stated the RS/SR) was a wake-up name for member states and governments to create the situations that may allow science to flourish “and to advance ethically and pretty in follow.”
