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The world is changing; let us change with it

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As the world hurtles towards greater reliance on innovation, where the lines between physical, digital and biological systems become blurred, governments are under pressure to adapt legislation and put new policies in place to deal with the new era.

Nations have been preparing for the wave of unprecedented technological development called the fourth industrial revolution, which is integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, genome editing, augmented reality, robotics and additive manufacturing (3-D printing). The changes are disruptive and quickly altering the way society and the economy function.

Science, technology and innovation are at the epicentre of these developments, and those governments that have embraced them as a vehicle of the new technological era will, without a doubt, improve people’s lives.

A slew of positive change is in the offing, as the fourth industrial revolution has the potential to empower even marginalised communities. On the flip side, the revolution is expected to make hundreds of thousands of jobs obsolete. It is estimated that by next year, more than 7.1 million jobs will have been displaced, and that half of the existing jobs will have disappeared by 2050. New kinds of jobs will be created; it is expected that 65% of the children currently entering primary school will end up working in jobs that currently don’t exist – about 90% of which will require information technology skills. With such extensive changes, planning, planning and more planning by governments is crucial to how countries will reap the benefits and mitigate the fallout of the fourth industrial revolution. Effective planning will need to be predicated on sound advice, and with science, technology and innovation at the heart of the change, sound scientific advice is required.

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As part of the post-apartheid reconstruction, the 1996 White Paper on Science and Technology: Preparing for the 21st Century introduced the concept of a national system of innovation premised on the view that all South Africans – irrespective of colour, class, gender and sexual orientation – should derive lasting benefits from investments in science, technology and innovation.

The implementation of that white paper saw an expansion of the science, technology and innovation institutional landscape and an increase in knowledge generation, including a threefold increase in the number of research publications. The number of black people and women in the research and development workforce has increased considerably and doctoral graduation rates have risen.

However, a review conducted by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (Naci) shows that more work still needs to be done as the national system of innovation is not yet fully inclusive and, since 1996, South Africa’s innovation performance – measured in patents and products – has been relatively flat. The world as we knew it when the ANC took over the reins of government has changed. We are seeing exponential technological changes, geopolitical shifts such as the rise of India and China as economic superpowers, rapid urbanisation and a growing proportion of young people, coupled with high youth unemployment. These changes demanded a policy shift. A new white paper on science, technology and innovation, approved in March this year, was developed to deal with emerging challenges and pave the way for our country to enter the future.

As we embark on the implementation of the white paper through decadal plans, we are mindful that all our endeavours are rooted firmly in addressing the growing demands of our people for a better life.

As Ángel Gurría, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, mentioned in a speech a year ago, people feel left behind and at the mercy of big impersonal forces – globalisation, technological change, large corporations and financial institutions.

As we embark on the implementation of the white paper through decadal plans, we are mindful that all our endeavours are rooted firmly in addressing the growing demands of our people for a better life.

As we align ourselves with Gurría’s sentiments, the Naci has completed the National 2030 Foresight Exercise to find ways of addressing the problems people are facing, rather than simply identifying technologies to generate products and processes. The role of the Naci in advising government on how to balance the demands of embracing new technology and responding to the needs of the people will be crucial. As we navigate the opportunities that artificial intelligence offers, we must be honest about the pitfalls. Growth in advanced technology threatens to replace humans, both those performing low-skilled or physical jobs and those doing so-called cognitive work.

We will therefore need Naci to advise us on how to reskill our people and what intervention is required by the state. Another significant area is the implications of technology for human genetics and genomics research, which has huge potential to address a raft of diseases, but also raises serious ethical questions. Again, sound scientific advice will be required to guide government.

As the white paper is explicit about embracing the fourth industrial revolution and using technologies to address challenges, its implementation will be closely monitored. It calls for the Naci’s role to be expanded to include monitoring and evaluation. The advisory body will be reconfigured to act as a national monitoring and evaluation institution, charged with analysing science, technology and innovation information and undertaking work to inform government planning. We look to this institution to provide direction and guidance as government continues its efforts to lift its people out of inequality, poverty and joblessness.

  • Manamela is deputy minister of higher education, science and technology


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