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Implementing a research data policy in South Africa

Implementing a research data policy in South Africa. Michael Kahn Centre for Research Evaluation of Science and Technology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa BISO-BRDI-CFRS Symposium The National Academies, Washington D.C. 18-19 April 2011 mikejkahn@gmail.com. Outline.

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Implementing a research data policy in South Africa

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  1. Implementing a research data policy in South Africa Michael Kahn Centre for Research Evaluation of Science and Technology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa BISO-BRDI-CFRS Symposium The National Academies, Washington D.C. 18-19 April 2011 mikejkahn@gmail.com

  2. Outline • South Africa – Gateway for the BRICs? • National innovation system & policy • Prospects for research data policy

  3. South Africa – Gateway for the BRICs? • 1885 – Berlin Conference; colonization; “Scramble for Africa’ • 1945 – 1989 Period of decolonization; consolidation of states; elite formation • 1989 – The fall of the Berlin Wall (or was it pushed?) • FDI into Africa = 2% of world total; SA #3 after EU, China? Africa 2050 = 2 billion people; SSA > 1 billion – new trade blocs; new power relations

  4. A New Scramble for Africa? (EU) RUSSIA (USA) CHINA & INDIA BRAZIL HR SOUTH AFRICA

  5. World Bank World Development Report 2007; Economist 31.10.09; ISSC WSSR 2010

  6. Political economy • From three decades of siege economy and racial exclusion • Post 1994 - ‘constructed crisis’ – developmental state modulated by “inclusion”. Class tensions. • Agriculture 3%; Manufacturing 32%; Services 65% • Minerals-energy complex • Employment: 9%; 26%; 65% • Business the main actor in R&D. Evidence of Triple Helix at work: • ARC-Uni-agribusiness • CSIR-Uni-Miners • World class financial system with large carry trade. • Domestic TNCs across Africa, Middle and Near East • Open economy with symptoms of Dutch Disease

  7. Into Africa South Africa is the leading African source of FDI, accounting for over 70% of the region’s total outward FDI stock. As early as the 1970s it had already become a major source of FDI from developing countries. Flows have been concentrated in developed countries: three quarters of the country’s outward FDI stock is in Europe and about one tenth in North America. Although only 9% of its outward FDI goes to Africa, the country is among the leading foreign investors in many African countries. UNCTAD World Investment Report 2006

  8. Roaring Lions: small innovation systems – but poorly measured Sources: UNESCO World Science Report, 2011; Web of Science; UIS; http://info.worldbank.org/etools/kam2

  9. ZA and NO: Activity and Impact factors of two ‘Western/bio-environmental systems (2004-2008)

  10. Knowledge, networks and nations (Royal Society, 2011)

  11. National innovation system & policy Financial system EDUCATION TRAINING SKILLS DEV INFORMAL SECTOR Cultural- Political norms UNIVERSITIES BUSINESS UTILITIES Associations S&T SERVICES GOVT. DEPTS INSTITUTES & MUSEUMS RESEARCH COUNCILS NGOs Information policy Regulatory framework Legal framework including IP Standards

  12. Innovation Policy – context & instruments • R&D Strategy (2002) • Reorganization with some refocusing • HRD - SA Research Chairs; Centres of Excellence • Framework conditions: IP law; Tax Incentive • Innovation Plan (2008) • Space Science – remote monitoring & telemetry • Energy, hydrogen economy & new materials -catalysis • Farmer to Pharma-biotech, plant & animal science • Global dynamics – climate change – remote sensing • Human and Social Dynamics – social sciences • Technology Innovation Agency (2010) • Employment Equity & Immigration Law • New Growth Path & Industrial Policy • Support for African Union-NEPAD • Promotion of international networking • Infrastructure – Center for High-speed Computing

  13. Prospects for research data policy • Data rich at system level • Input, process and output data and indicators • R&D & Innovation Survey; • Education Statistics; • Privately held bibliographic data: SA Knowledgebase • Higher Education Management Information System • Research Information Management System - pending • Regulatory frameworks and regulators • Clinical trials register • Gene banks – fauna, insecta and flora • Plant Breeders rights • Biodiversity and indigenous knowledge compliance • Ethical clearance built into funding awards process • Promotion of Access to Information Act • Patent Amendment Act

  14. Data rich at sector level – Southern skies, fauna & flora, people, earth and oceans • SA Earth Observation Network • Optical astronomy – SAAO & SALT • Radio astronomy – HART, MeerKAT & SKA • Hermanus Magnetic & Seismographic Observatory • Oceanographic and Antarctic data (MCM, SAAS) • Geological (Council for Geosciences) • Meteorological data – SA Weather Service • Social science (HSRC; SADA) • SA National Institute for Biodiversity • SA Institute for Aquatic Diversity • Statistics SA: Census; Labour Force Survey; Household Expenditure • Health: Medical Research Council; clinical trials

  15. Information poor at system and sector levels • Two ‘natural’ problems: • Bounded rationality • Silos • Fragmentation by default • Statistics SA - coordination mandate for national surveys • Department of Science and Technology has mandate to coordinate S&T budgets, but not too coordinate information • National Advisory Council on Innovation – lacks authority (compare with National Council on Higher Education) • The normal problem of MIS designed for one task being used to address other purposes • Resource limitations – inadequate meta data and training

  16. Prospects for coordination – reasonable • Commitment to monitoring and evaluation at highest level • Minister for M&E in the Presidency • Indicator-based performance agreements for Ministers • Commitment to Big Science – Square Kilometre Array • Support to AMCOST CPA S&T ASTI & flagships • Implies high-speed wide area networking • Data sharing regionally and internationally • Supportive infrastructure and legislation • Commitment to OECD Guidelines for Access to Publicly Funded Research 2007 • Review of Science System under way – an opportunity to accelerate progress on data sharing

  17. Toward a data access policy • Data sharing as the (qualified) norm • Issues of sovereignty, resource protection, indigenous knowledge • Ethical clearance to involve data sharing protocol? • North-South relationships: • Academic hunters exploiting data gatherers? • African datasets hosted abroad • Abuse of research permit mechanisms to restrict inquiry – security laws may be a barrier • Digitization of paper MIS a priority • Legislation for publication archiving in place • Promotion of open access publishing • Knowledge Divides (UNESCO/ISSC, 2010), but the Invisible College of Science functions – witness co-publication

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