The innovation and technology sector is growing fast following the national reform in Ethiopia. Promoting and developing technological developments, innovations, and innovational research became among the key sectors of national reform. In the first place, Ethiopia places due focus on creating a conducive ecosystem for the development of the sector especially in investing in infrastructural development, enacting appropriate policies and proclamations, applying new strategies, and promoting private investments in the innovation and technology sector by supporting the startup businesses in the technology.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) is striving to realize the national goal of ensuring the development of innovations, technology, and scientific research in the sector. So far, MInT achieved a lot in developing the technology and innovation sector in Ethiopia.
This week, on Tuesday, the House of Peoples Representatives of Ethiopia (HPR) in its 25th regular session reviewed the Nine-Month performance report of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT). MInT Minister, Belete Molla (PhD) presented the nine-month performance report of the ministry to the parliament and briefed the performance and activities of the ministry in the science and innovation sectors.
Presenting the nine-month performance report, Belete stated that outstanding performances were registered in the areas of innovation, technology development, scientific and technological research, development of the digital economy, capacity building, and infrastructural developments in the sector. Especially, in creating a conducive ecosystem for innovation, technological developments, and scientific research by supporting the sector and adopting new policies, proclamations, and strategies, Belete said adding efforts are underway to promote local innovations and startup businesses and in promoting research in the innovation and technology sectors.
To accelerate its economic development and realize prosperity, Ethiopia is striving to transform the technology sector. The sector is a key sector for the overall development of the nation. To transform the technological development and innovations, the investments continued in all dimensions. In doing this, a lot of investments, policy reforms, and strategies have been applied during the past five years. MInT takes the responsibility of realizing the transformation of the technology sector by all means.
The minister said in this regard that the MInT is working to fill the gap in the science, technology, and innovation sectors and is working on identifying the capabilities and potential resources in the fields. In this regard, infrastructural development, enhancing local innovations, supporting research undertakings in various fields, and cultivating talented youths in the innovation, research, startup, and technology sectors are among the initiatives of the sector during the past nine months.
As to Belete, MInT is working to make the innovation and technology sector support the overall economic development of the country and create huge job opportunities for the youth generation. Hence, understanding its role in facilitating economic development to realize prosperity and in creating job opportunities, the efforts in the innovation and technology sector become among the key sectors and new initiatives are being applied to make the development of the sector sustainable.
Similarly, considering the role of local innovations and startup businesses for the development and technology transfer in the sector, Ethiopia gives due focus to creating a conducive ecosystem for startup businesses and enterprises, including digital technology. In promoting startup businesses, a national startup exhibition was organized at the Science Museum where over 900 participants presented their products at the exhibition.
To make the sector vibrant in contributing its role to the national economy, MInT is implementing and promoting problem-solving research in the sector to support the development of the digital economic journey of the country. Legal frameworks are reformed and new policies and strategies that promote local innovations, startup businesses, and local research and inventions in the technology sector are applied.
In addition, infrastructural development in digital technology and other technological advancements is being applied in the country. Critical infrastructures that helped to flourish and develop digital economic activities give due attention to the digital transformation strategy of the country.
For his part, Negeri Lencho (PhD), Chairperson of the Human Resource Development and Technology Affairs Standing Committee of the HPR,) said that the efforts being undertaken by the ministry in developing and promoting infrastructures in digital technology, in promoting startups and innovations are bringing meaningful changes in the development of the sector. In addition, developing the sector10
] directly or indirectly accelerates the economic development of the country. Considering the sector’s role in the overall economic development, efforts should be strengthened to promote and develop local innovations, research and technologies.
Similarly, the efforts in the development of space and geospatial information and using the sector for the development of the country show a significant development. He praised the research projects being conducted in this sector which have impacts on solving problems and benefiting the peo:”exciting the achievements and successes in the sector, Negeri recommended furthering strengthening efforts to exploit the untapped potential of the sector. In terms of supporting the government’s development endeavors through technology and by accelerating the digital economy infrastructure, there are still limitations and Negeri recommends the ministry to accelerate the efforts in this regard. Hence, by facilitating the technological developments and investing in technology transfer, the ministry should work in supporting the realization of prosperity by supporting the government’s economic development efforts through technology.
During the time, Minister Belete further stated that efforts are ongoing to establish peaceful atoms research center in Ethiopia. Significant developments are being registered in Ethiopia’s technological landscape and efforts.
Among the efforts Belete briefed during the parliament session was Ethiopia’s plan to establish a nuclear science and technology research center. For advanced studies in the field, students are being sent to China and Russia to specialize in the field of study so as to have equipped and capable human resource. To realize the plan, discussions are underway with Russia’s State Atomic Energy Cooperation (ROSATOM) with regard to the center’s construction following the completion of a feasibility study.
As to the Minister, continuous efforts are underway to enhance innovations and technological developments in Ethiopia. MInT has issued licenses for over 2,000 technology materials. In strengthening the efforts in the sector and promoting local innovations, the nine-months performance of the ministry was promising, as to the minister.
Still, the sector is facing challenges, including lack of necessary proclamations and regulations, challenges in obtaining foreign currency to purchase technological products and lack of finance for startup businesses. Belete further stressed the need to bridge gaps between urban and rural areas in the technology sector, gender imbalance as well as lack of uniformity across cities and regional states in implementation of digital strategy.
The HPR standing committee suggested establishing centers in each region to provide accessibility and support to young individuals with creative ideas, turning them into national resources.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 10 MAY 2024
