Reports revealed that South Africa and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI) areas. The MoU between the two countries was signed by South African Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt avuşolu in Pretoria.
The MoU was signed on January 10 in Pretoria during the visit of Mevlüt Avuşolu, the foreign minister of Turkey. It is revealed that since 1991, strong bilateral political, economic, and cultural ties have been maintained between South Africa and Turkey.
Over the past few years, trade between the two nations has gradually increased. South African exports to Turkey climbed by over 18% between April and November 2022. A deeper level of cooperation between the two nations is expected to result from the inked MoU in science and innovation.
According to reports, both South Africa and Turkey have acknowledged the value of science and technology in the growth of their respective national economies as well as the power of science, technology, and innovation (STI) to raise community standards of living.
The MoU between the two states is important not only because it allows the states concerned to reveal their objectives and what they expect from one another, but also because it will help other African countries and foreign countries see potential in each other.
According to a statement released by the South African Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, it is believed that the partnership would benefit both parties, especially in the spheres of capacity building, the “development of scholarly STI cooperation, and joint research.”
The statement further revealed that “the partnership will promote inter-institutional cooperation, the exchange of scientists, researchers, technical experts, and scholars, joint research, as well as the exchange of science, innovation, and technological policy information in advancing science diplomacy between the two countries.”
Africa on the Path of Innovation: South Africa as a Case Study
The inexorable growth of networks, sensors, artificial intelligence, and automation is igniting a revolution throughout the African continent that has yet to reach its final destination. New technologies are growing, including facial recognition, CCTV cameras, robotics, and drones. South Africa, as a case study, must have realised its youth potential pertaining to science, technology, and innovation.
In fact, young innovators in Africa are already helping to shape the future of African cities, and if given the opportunity to succeed, they may be at the forefront of developing urgently needed solutions. African governments must use the potential of young innovators to help create the future of Africa.
For the security and stability of African states, emerging technology has a significant impact. However, how it is used and whether there are more treaties with foreign nations will ultimately determine the legacy of the innovations. African nations may experience increased peace and prosperity if they seize the advantages of rising technology while limiting its threats. Numerous African nations are already utilising drones and artificial intelligence (AI), two crucial new technologies, in novel and disruptive ways. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, up to 15 African nations use AI-enabled surveillance technology, such as algorithmic analysis and facial recognition with CCTV cameras, to monitor and address crime.
For instance, reported crime in Nairobi decreased between 2014 and 2015, the year that AI surveillance equipment was put in place, but it swiftly began to creep back up to much greater levels. Also, in order to send life-saving medical supplies to isolated rural areas, Rwanda teamed up with the American company Zipline in 2016 to become the first nation in the world to offer commercial drone delivery. Nigeria was the first African nation to openly admit the use of a drone in combat against a terrorist organisation the same year. Some African states may be able to develop their defence industries if cutting-edge technology becomes broadly accessible.
Since the 1970s, a South African company has been producing drones. The company, in fact, revealed its plans to create drone swarms “designed for technology transfer and portable manufacturing with partner countries.”
However, how African governments utilise developing technology and their partnerships with foreign nations will determine how the continent could ultimately be impacted.
What to take from South Africa’s and Turkey’s Memorandum
The most important lesson to take from the recent MoU between the two states is that it is a signal of African prosperity. Still, the capacity of African governments to adjust to technological development will continue to vary greatly. Some of the most innovative African nations may benefit from developing digital technology in terms of prosperity and security. Examples include Mauritius, Rwanda, and Kenya, which are the only nations in Africa to place in the top 50 of the International Telecommunications Union’s global cybersecurity commitment rating and have vibrant, tech-driven industries. However, Nigeria boasts more tech centres than any other African nation, but it has also developed into a hotspot for cybercrime worldwide.
It is important to reiterate that it is not sufficient for African nations to concentrate on the quick and frequently reactive adoption of new technologies if they want the digital revolution in Africa to result in peace and prosperity, but more treaties, pacts, and agreements should be “upskilled.”.
Much more work has to be done; apart from signing MoUs, African states must always support the early-stage innovators of their countries, which will eventually boost their prospects of long-term viability. Innovations should also be integrated into the delivery of public services and long-term development strategies by African nations. The approach must include fostering the thriving innovation ecosystems that young Africans lead.
In conclusion, African governments must actively involve young innovators in policy discussions and initiatives to foster an atmosphere that will support their ideas and better understand their requirements. The MoU between the two states narrates prospects for how young technocrats will emerge in the hinterlands of Africa. Africa should be awakening to science, technology, and innovation (STI).
