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The Role Of Research And Development In The Manufacturing Sector In Fostering Technological Innovation And Economic Security In Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Tegegn D. Toge

    (National Defence University – Kenya)

  • Joseph Mutungi

    (National Defence University – Kenya)

  • Paul Gachanja

    (National Defence University – Kenya)

Abstract

This study investigates the critical nexus between Research and Development (R&D), technological innovation, and economic security within Ethiopia's manufacturing sector. Despite ambitious national plans to become a lower-middle-income country and a regional manufacturing hub, the sector's contribution to GDP remains low, hampered by low productivity, technological stagnation, and weak innovation capabilities. Employing a mixed-methods case study design, this research collected data from 30 senior officials and researchers across five specialized manufacturing R&D institutes and 9 key informant interviews. The findings reveal a significant systemic disconnect: while Ethiopia has established a structured R&D institutional framework, it is severely hampered by chronic underinvestment (only 0.61% of GDP), weak linkages between academia and industry, and a policy implementation gap. Consequently, promising R&D outputs, such as waste valorization technologies and AI-driven quality control prototypes, fail to achieve commercial scale and transformative impact. The study concludes that without strategic interventions to boost funding, foster robust industry, academia and government manufacturing industry R&D institutes collaboration, and create effective commercialization pathways, Ethiopia's manufacturing R&D will continue to fall short of driving the technological innovation necessary for enhanced productivity, competitiveness, and long-term economic security. Recommendations include increasing R&D expenditure to at least 1% of GDP, implementing targeted policy incentives for private-sector involvement, and establishing formalized triple-helix partnerships to bridge the existing innovation chasm.

Suggested Citation

  • Tegegn D. Toge & Joseph Mutungi & Paul Gachanja, 2025. "The Role Of Research And Development In The Manufacturing Sector In Fostering Technological Innovation And Economic Security In Ethiopia," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(9), pages 1706-1715, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:1706-1715
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    References listed on IDEAS

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