This study investigates science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy and governance in relation to research and innovation (R&I) ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To understand the implications of STI policy and governance on R&I, the authors focus on university, industry and government actors; using the Triple Helix and National Systems of Innovation approaches as analytical frameworks to guide the study. The authors identify a range of factors hindering R&I actors’ interactions, including gaps in STI governance responsibilities and accountabilities, policymaking and structural transitions, R&I management capacity and capability gaps. Based on the findings, they propose changes to policymaking and the governance of R&I in SSA, in addition to advancing innovative approaches such as ‘resource circulation’ in the context of knowledge, research and science infrastructure scarcity. The findings provide fresh insights into STI policy and governance frameworks, fostering actors’ interactions and supporting performance improvements in research, science and innovation systems across Africa.

本研究调查了与撒哈拉以南非洲 (SSA) 研究和创新 (R&I) 生态系统相关的科学、技术和创新 (STI) 政策和治理。为了解 STI 政策和治理对 R&I 的影响，作者重点关注大学、行业和政府行为者；使用三螺旋和国家创新系统方法作为分析框架来指导研究。作者确定了一系列阻碍 R&I 参与者互动的因素，包括 STI 治理责任和问责制的差距、政策制定和结构转型、R&I 管理能力和能力差距。根据调查结果，他们建议改变 SSA 中的政策制定和 R&I 治理，除了在知识、研究和科学基础设施稀缺的背景下推进“资源循环”等创新方法。研究结果提供了对科学、技术和创新政策和治理框架的新见解，促进了参与者的互动并支持非洲研究、科学和创新系统的绩效改进。