In Africa, energy plays an important role in the processes of economic and sustainable development. However, inefficiency such as mismanagement of resources constrains productivity. Prior energy efficiency studies in Africa have failed to provide the paths through which energy efficiency improvement can be achieved. The current study aims to assess energy efficiency improvement among 25 selected countries in Africa. First, the dynamic slack-based measure (DSBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is applied to gauge the efficiency measurement. Further, the Malmquist productivity index (MPI) is employed to investigate the energy efficiency improvement during 2006–2014. Empirically, the results from the dynamic slack-based measure (DSBM) model show that energy efficiency in Africa is generally low. Also, the findings from the MPI suggest there is no significant improvement in energy efficiency in Africa. Based on the estimated results, some energy efficiency improvement strategies are further proposed for sample countries in Africa.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the performance of indigenous innovation in developing countries in the era of trade liberalization. It analyzes indigenous innovation from research and development (R&D) investments to innovation output and its effect on economic growth.Design/methodology/approachThe sample for this study includes 20 middle-income countries across five continents for the period between 1994 and 2018. The study employs the Crepon Duguet and Mairessec CDM model in a panel data setting to do a multistage analysis of the innovation process. A vector error correction model VECM is employed to test for Granger causality between the variables investigated.FindingsThe results show that imports and foreign direct investments (FDI) have generally have short-run and long-run causal effects on domestic R&D investments. In regions where imports and FDI do not have individual causal effects on innovation output, a joint increase in each of them and R&D have both short-run and long-run causal effects. Indigenous innovation is a significant contributor to economic growth when a country can produce and export novel products.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is only limited to developing economies, and due to the unavailability of data, only 20 countries were captured.Practical implicationsImported products and FDI are critical to the innovation drive when such activities are targeted at enhancing indigenous innovation from R&D to the production of new products. Hence, policy formulation should encourage the absorption of foreign technologies that serve as inputs to indigenous innovation.Originality/valueThis paper focuses specifically on indigenous innovation and analyses the influence of foreign technologies in this effort. It tests the moderating roles of imports and FDI in the relationship between R&D and innovation output, concluding that both variables enhance the effect of R&D on innovation output.

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Based on the perspective of collaborative innovation, this study employed the social network analysis method to empirically analyze the evolution of knowledge diffusion networks between research institutions and industry in China. The study is centered on the Jiangsu University of China, an institution noted for its innovative activities for a long time. The results show that since 2008 the extent and depth of explicit knowledge diffusion of Jiangsu University have increased significantly. The regional knowledge diffusion network presents a core-edge spatial pattern, but the core-edge structure is weakening; indicating that while the number of partners in the collaboration effort is increasing, the strength of ties between groups is weakening. The tacit knowledge diffusion network presents a small-world effect; small groups of partners clustered around one or a few influential inventors have gradually emerged. It is also evident that enterprises that are located close to the university benefit more from such collaboration than those located in farther provinces. We recommend that universities in such collaborations should reach out to diverse industry players using their specialized expertise.

This research examines the significance of information communication technology (ICT) to the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in rural Ghana using a study of some selected SMEs in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East region of Ghana. One hundred SMEs were sampled using simple random sampling of small businesses operating in the rural areas within the Bawku municipality. The study found out that ICT has contributed to the growth of SMEs by decreasing cost of communication and transaction, and enhancing better relations with customers and suppliers. Though ICT awareness of the benefits of ICT to SMEs is high among SME owners in the Bawku Municipality, its patronage and usage is still low. High cost of hardware and software infrastructure, non-availability of support systems and lack of expertise are some of the barriers to the adoption of ICT among SMEs. The author recommends recruiting and training (or outsourcing) of ICT expertise in SMEs, SMEs should also be encouraged to use mobile money wallets for cash transactions. Educational and institutions should also look at developing cheaper and more accessible ICT applications primarily for SMEs.