ABSTRACT
Universities are generally considered key actors in innovation development and innovation systems. A substantial amount of knowledge creation and basic research needed for development of science and technology are generated and conducted at universities.
In Africa, there are thousands of universities, but only five rank among the global top 500 universities. Most universities in Africa focus on education, especially at undergraduate levels. Their competence is usually too insufficient for complex science-based innovations. In addition, African universities are seldom recognised as crucial active stakeholders in emerging innovation systems in African countries. Furthermore, cooperation between universities and the innovation-oriented private sector has been limited so far.
To tackle several of the aforementioned challenges, international development aid projects support capacity-building and the generation of innovations in African universities. There are now universities that aim to systematically focus on research-based education and prominence in internationally recognised research. In addition, some universities emphasise their entrepreneurial characters with the aim to create better employment opportunities for their students, generate additional income for the university and have stronger societal relevance.
