Title: Development of the geoscience sectoral innovation system in South Africa

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide an integrated, multidimensional and dynamic view of innovation in the development of the first geosciences sectorial innovation system in South Africa. The paper is based on the view that geoscience as a sector can contribute immensely in support of all productive sectors of the economy, hence strengthening this sector through innovation is vital. This paper gives a conceptual formulation of the geoscience sectoral innovation system which is meant to contribute to climate change, economic growth and general improvement of knowledge sharing and partnerships within and outside the sector. It also seeks to elevate the social, indigenous and grassroots innovations including the commercialisation of research for the betterment of the citizens. Information from reports, publications and interviews was used to gather insight into which actors should be included, how they will interact and what interaction processes to map and linkages towards elevating knowledge flow within the geoscience field. The results illustrate that increase in demand for geoscience products, creating an enabling environment for innovation, strengthening helix networks (academia, industry, government, civil society) and sectoral-wide R&D collaborations are critical (Figure 1). Entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators in geoscience need support as they can improve knowledge (both tacit and codified) exploitation towards solving societal challenges. Thus, the policies, partnerships and networks to strengthen existing (and new) actor networks-linkages, build new competencies, and effective conversion of codified knowledge to tacit knowledge and its exploitation are fundamental to the new generation of geoscience knowledge flow and utilisation in South Africa.

Biography

Dr.Emmanuel Sakala is the head of geoscience innovation at the Council for Geoscience, which is one of the science councils in South Africa. He is an expert in natural resources exploration using multi-geoscientific approaches, software development, application of artificial intelligence systems in geoscience, and geoscience innovation. He has worked as a geophysicist in mining, research, and consultancy services for 15 years in over 10 African countries. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in applied physics, a master's degree in Geophysics and a PhD degree in geohydrology. In his career, he has received several awards for outstanding research, conference proceedings and competitions.