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Learning by firms: the black box of South Africa's innovation system

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  • Jo Lorentzen

Abstract

South Africa designed its post-Apartheid science and technology policies in the mould of the national innovation system approach. Yet policymakers knew little about the determinants of technological upgrading in latecomer firms either in the developing world more generally or in South Africa specifically. These two blind spots made for a veritable black box hiding the engines of innovation. Policy was designed around this black box and was thus largely and by necessity borrowed rather than learned. This paper describes why this is a problem and what can be done about it. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jo Lorentzen, 2009. "Learning by firms: the black box of South Africa's innovation system," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 36(1), pages 33-45, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:36:y:2009:i:1:p:33-45
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.3152/030234209X403262
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    Cited by:

    1. Szirmai A. & Gebreeyesus M. & Guadagno F. & Verspagen B., 2013. "Promoting productive employment in Sub‐Saharan Africa : a review of the literature," MERIT Working Papers 2013-062, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    2. Chakravarty, Sanghamitra, 2022. "Resource constrained innovation in a technology intensive sector: Frugal medical devices from manufacturing firms in South Africa," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    3. Gabriela Dutrénit & Carla De Fuentes & Arturo Torres, 2010. "Diferencias en la efectividad de los canales de interacción sobre los beneficios obtenidos por investigadores y empresas en México," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 2710, Department of Economics - dECON.
    4. Nelson Casimiro Zavale & Patrício Vitorino Langa, 2018. "University-industry linkages’ literature on Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic literature review and bibliometric account," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(1), pages 1-49, July.
    5. De Fuentes, Claudia & Dutrénit, Gabriela, 2012. "Best channels of academia–industry interaction for long-term benefit," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(9), pages 1666-1682.

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