African regional innovation systems: bibliometric analysis of research collaboration patterns 2005–2009

Abstract

Understanding the nature and dynamics of Africa's collaborative research networks is critical for building and integrating the African innovation system. This paper investigates the collaborative structure of the African research systems, with focus on regions and integration. Drawing on a bibliometric analysis of co-authorship of African research publications in 2005-2009, we propose an empirically derived grouping of African research community into three distinct research regions: Southern-Eastern, Western, and Northern. The three regions are established and defined in terms of active coauthorship clusters within Africa, as well as through co-authorship links with non-African countries and regions. We examine co-authorship links both at the national and city levels in order to provide a robust and nuanced empirical basis for the three African research regions. The collaboration patterns uncovered cast light on the emerging innovation systems in Africa by pointing out the differing national, regional, and global roles of countries and cities within collaborative research networks. Lack of research capabilities is the primary factor arresting the development of African innovation systems, but our analysis also suggests that Africa's internal research collaboration suffers from structural weaknesses and uneven integration. We also identify that South Africa, and some emerging new research hubs, hold critical networking function for linking African researchers.

Finland as a Knowledge Economy 2.0: Lessons on Policies and Governance

“…While large Finnish companies have actively forged global innovation networks, particularly in China and the rest of Asia, Finland is a latecomer. Indeed, compared with the international research collaboration networks of Africa or Brazil, Finland's interactions are still weak, despite recent efforts (Toivanen and Ponomariov 2011). From the perspective of innovation policy and system development, Finland is only now beginning to forge substantial relations with the developing countries and emerging economies.…”

Research growth and citation impact of Tanzanian scholars: A 24 years scientometric study

“…Science, technology, and innovation are widely acknowledged as important components in achieving sustainable economic development goals Toivanen and Ponomariov, 2011;Inglesi-Lotz and Pouris, 2013;Confraria and Godinho, 2015).…”

“…Most universities and research institutions in subSaharan Africa have a weak research infrastructure, capacity, and funding which affects their contribution to the world"s knowledge production and development through research activities (Abrahams et al, 2009;Kotecha et al, 2011;Toivanen and Ponomariov, 2011;Pouris, 2015). Lack of access to international and local research outputs, and poor visibility of Africa"s research outputs contribute to low research productivity (Abrahams et al, 2009;Nature, 2015).…”

“…Africa faces many challenges of which investments in science, technology and research could assist to improve their economic base. Understanding the nature and dynamics of research performance of a specific country is important for building and integrating the national innovation system (Toivanen and Ponomariov, 2011).…”

Development of a methodology for scientometric analysis. application to study worldwide research on hardware architecture and cybernetics

“…A number of authors have analyzed scientific production in multiple disciplines of WOS categories like public hygiene (Parra Hidalgo et al, 1983), tsunami research (Chiu & Ho, 2007), tropical medicine (Falagas et al, 2006;Vergidis et al, 2005), bio-energy (Konur, 2011), renewable energy (Montoya et al, 2014), vaccines (Guzman et al, 1998), otorhinolaryngology (Mora et al, 2003), respiratory medicine (Michalopoulos & Falagas, 2005), cancer molecular epidemiology (Ugolini et al, 2007), geographic information system (GIS) (Tian et al, 2008) (Franceschet & Costantini, 2011;Hou et al, 2008;Huamani et al, 2014;Melin & Persson, 1998;Toivanen & Ponomariov, 2011), competitiveness of universities (Abramo et al, 2008;Silaghi-Dumitrescu & Sabau, 2014) The author (s), editor (s), title, source, addresses, citation time, keywords, language and WOS category are recorded for each article and it is further analyzed by using the inbuilt formulated methodology for scientometric analysis.…”