Fostering Knowledge uptake in Emerging Innovation Systems : Enhancing Conditions for Innovation in Rwanda

Knowledge, when used effectively, is a major input for development. However, the processes associated with knowledge production, knowledge transfer, and knowledge use are complex and not easy to facilitate in certain parts of the world. This is mainly due to a lack of or limited interactions between knowledge producers and knowledge users. This thesis aims to explore how efforts to foster knowledge uptake are organized to support innovation and development in emerging innovation systems. It does so by analysing how building National Innovation Systems and associated policy initiatives can enable interactive learning for innovation and development in Rwanda. This thesis portrays the policy initiatives and institutional frameworks that have been introduced (so far) to foster knowledge production and its use which is aimed at addressing the needs and challenges that Rwandan society currently faces. I have chosen the Rwandan agricultural sector (as a comprehensive economic sector) to explore these issues. Empirical findings from interviews and secondary data show that Rwanda has made progress in establishing Science, Technology and Innovation institutions and attendant policies. However, the research capacity of these institutions remains comparatively low and collaboration among stakeholders is scant. Notwithstanding this, there is a great deal of political will to promote innovation and make it a key driver for national socio-economic development. This political will favours the construction of a National Innovation System, that is promising and forward-looking to building relationships among stakeholders that can be used to promote knowledge production and use. Nevertheless, the industrial sector in Rwanda is still at an embryonic stage and R&D investment from both the business sector and the government remains negligible. All of these efforts need to be sustained and improvements in policies and policy instruments should be made so as to (i) strengthen relations between actors and (ii) mobilize resources for the production and use of knowledge.