INNOVATION LAW AND POLICY IN AFRICA [INOLAP]

  Technological Innovation for African Development – Enhancing Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity ES Nwauche In a continent where appeals to the global community for exceptions and exemptions from the incidence and obligations of critical goods and service is the norm, it is gratifying to note the promise of enhanced cooperation towards developing local manufacturing capacity. The mRNA Technology Transfer Hub Programme Cape Town is a response to vaccine inequities by building African capacity to address inequities in access to COVID-19 vaccines.   The mRNA hub aims to establish sustainable, locally-owned manufacturing capabilities for Africa. Even though its initial focus is on mRNA Covid-19 there appears to be a strong possibility of developing other mRNA vaccines against important diseases that threaten Africa, such as Malaria. The mRNA Technology Transfer Hub was established in June 2021 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners. It will assist...

        ES Nwauche / Professor of Law, University of Fort Hare, South Africa / enwauche@ufh.ac.za Two innovation indexes released in 2022 provide a snapshot of the innovation profile of the world’s economies.   The first index is the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022 released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and tracked the future of innovation-driven growth worldwide through data on innovation investments (research & development); intellectual property fillings (patents, designs trademarks); venture capital; indicators of technological progress [semiconductor speed, electric battery prices, the cost of renewable energy and drug approvals]; Digital Innovation Age [supercomputing, artificial intelligence and automation impacting productivity] and deep science innovation wave [breakthroughs in biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, new materials and other sciences revolutionizing innovations in health, food, environment, and mobility]. ...