Advancing sustainable and inclusive innovation for economic transformation of Africa – case for Kenya

Innovation has the power to transform lives and uplift communities, but for it to truly be impactful, it must be inclusive. 

This paper explores the importance of inclusive innovation as a catalyst for economic transformation of the African continent, “Leaving nobody behind”. It addresses the continent’s vision of the "Africa We Want," characterized by a prosperous, peaceful, united continent, driven by its citizens, and representing a dynamic force in the global arena powered by innovation, industrialisation, and productivity. It draws lessons from the Kenyan Government’s vision to transform the country into an informed and digitally empowered Kenyan society. 

Further, the paper outlines the need for prioritisation of infrastructure, skills, enabling policy environments to enable inclusive innovation as a key driver for sustainable development including the role of science parks and AOIs, in accelerating this development and propose strategies for wider adoption, highlighting the potential for Africa’s economic and social transformation.