📋 Tender Overview
Ethiopia has unveiled a new strategy to implement its science, technology and innovation (STI) policy. The strategy aims to boost national innovation, develop human capital and promote sustainable economic growth through targeted policies and cross-sectoral cooperation. The Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy Implementation Strategy is closely linked to national development initiatives such as Digital Ethiopia 2025. It was developed with the support of the International Trade Centre's Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) in a collaborative process involving government agencies, academia and the private sector. It aims to reform the country's innovation ecosystem and overcome systemic challenges that hinder progress.
Ethiopia's declining ranking in the Global Innovation Index , in which the country slipped five places to 130th place in 2024, highlights weaknesses in areas such as human capital, research infrastructure and the involvement of the private sector in innovation processes. The new STI strategy therefore prioritizes research funding, human capital development and the promotion of local innovation capacities to address these deficits.
The new STI policy is divided into eight key pillars, including technology innovation, research infrastructure and intellectual property. It draws on global best practices to create a comprehensive approach to innovation. A key focus is to increase investment in research and development (R&D), which currently accounts for less than 0.3 percent of GDP and is well below the African Union target of 1 percent. Increasing this R&D spending and improving coordination between government, academia and the private sector is seen as crucial to promoting long-term innovation and reducing dependence on technology imports. In addition, the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge into modern research is emphasized in order to make the innovation system more inclusive and locally driven. Likewise, a National Research Agency is to be established and curricula are to be aligned with innovation priorities.
A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework complements the strategy. This includes indicators for economic, social and environmental progress. The strategy also supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), including innovation, quality education and partnerships for global development.
