Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T22:35:59.724Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

3 - Production of Science in Africa

Decisive Indicators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2020

R. Sooryamoorthy
Affiliation:
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Get access

Summary

The chapter presents the analysis of empirical data on scientific production in Africa, measured in terms of indicators such as scientific publications, separately for Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The production of science, whether measured in terms of scientific publications, patents or any other scientific output, is not shaped by a single factor. The production of scientific publications in Africa and its relationship with relevant indicators such as research and development (R&D), gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD), and gross domestic product (GDP) are analysed. Drawing on data from multiple reliable sources, the production of scientific publications in Africa is compared with that of other relevant regions and the world. A huge gap exists between the scientifically productive and the less-productive countries in Africa. Also, a wide disparity between Africa and the rest of the world is obvious in the number of available researchers. Within Africa, regional disparities such as sub-Saharan Africa prevail. The analysis shows the trends in the allocation of GDP for R&D. The analysis indicates a positive correlation between the production of scientific publications and GDP and GERD.

Type
Chapter
Information
Science, Policy and Development in Africa
Challenges and Prospects
, pp. 62 - 87
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×