Models of innovation and sub-saharan Africa's development tragedy

There is growing consensus that technological innovation, however defined, is critical for rapid economic development. However, opinions are divided regarding the kind of innovation that drives economic developmt and how to bring it about. This paper examines three dominant models of innovation that can be characterized as the US, the European (or early industrial revolution) and the development-driven models respectiveb. The first seems to be fuelled by highly qualified scientists, engineers and technologists and is sustained by large R&D spending a derivative of the mission-oriented aerospace armaments efforts of the US government. The second emanates from the munificent environment of a shared technical culture which produces a large number of practically trained entrepreneurs and workforces from an educational system that is biased towards hands-on technical apprenticeship, vocational and technological training. This second model emphasizes broad tacit skills, versatilip and agilip in learning new ski...