Opening access to knowledge in Southern African universities

The study identifies key constraints in access to knowledge in universities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and builds on findings from earlier studies. The report offers a series of recommendations to address challenges both at policy level and with regard to research and dissemination, especially in terms of an open knowledge platform for the region. Given the potential for the Internet to offer instant global distribution of research content, global inequalities engendered by commercialisation of scholarly publishing are recognised and being challenged by online publication. The extent to which university, faculty and departmental research objectives are met is discussed and examined, and constraints identified

Opening access to knowledge in Southern African universities

Meeting: Open Access: Maximising Research Quality & Impact, 29 October, 2009To promote access to knowledge, new interventions need to address existing constraints, concerns and fears regarding Open Access and support initiatives already underway at the university level. The presentation traces the development of Open Access software and Open Access Resources in terms of their relevance for educational purposes. Researchers are increasingly using the Internet for quick access to multiple resources. Constraints to publishing and dissemination of scholarly research are an issue for African universities. Establishment of a southern African regional publishing and dissemination platform is recommended

Innovation & intellectual property: collaborative dynamics in Africa

In the global knowledge economy, intellectual property (IP) rights – and the innovations they are meant to spur – are important determinants of progress. But what does this mean for the nations of Africa? One view is that strong IP protection can facilitate innovation in African settings. Others say that existing IP systems are simply not suited to the realities of African innovators. This book, based on case studies and evidence collected through research across nine countries in Africa, sheds new light on the complex relationships between innovation and intellectual property. It covers findings from Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa, across many sites of innovation and creativity including music, leather goods, textiles, cocoa, coffee, auto parts, traditional medicine, book publishing, biofuels and university research. Various forms of intellectual property protection are explored: copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications and trade secrets, as well as traditional and informal mechanisms of knowledge governance. The picture emerging from the empirical research presented in this volume is one in which innovators in diverse African settings share a common appreciation for collaboration and openness. And thus, when African innovators seek to collaborate, they are likely to be best-served by IP approaches that balance protection of creative, innovative ideas with information-sharing and open access to knowledge. The authors, who come from a range of disciplines, are all experts in their fields, working together through the Open African Innovation Research and Training (Open A.I.R.) network