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Science Technology and Innovation Policy Review: Seychelles
The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Review of Seychelles was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles. The request was made in the context of the UNCTAD project on Technology Assessment in the energy and agricultural sectors in Africa to accelerate progress on science technology and innovation and this Review is one of its products. The review of Seychelles' National Innovation System (NIS) and the implementation of its 2016-2025 national Science Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy (STIPS) suggests a range of policy actions and institutional reforms. These recommendations are essential for invigorating the NIS thereby enabling Seychelles to harness STI and entrepreneurship effectively to achieve the goals set in Vision 2033 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report reviews the implementation of the 2016-2025 STI Policy and Strategy (STIPS) and assess the country’s national innovation system.
Implementation and effectiveness of the current STI policy frameworks
Seychelles Vision 2033 and the NDS 2019-2023 contain explicit provisions for promoting STI. The 2016-2025 Science Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy (STIPS) is well aligned with the Vision 2033 and the NDS. Mainstreaming STI across all sectors of the economy is key to realizing Vision 2033. In addition the Seychelles has an array of national policies which while not strictly in the mandate of the MIEI and DSTI can positively contribute to STI outcomes. These include policies for FDI intellectual property protection trade industrialization environmental conservation and climate change education and training public procurement ICT technology biosafety and the blue economy. Illustrative cases or examples are given to demonstrate that for successful implementation of STIPS 2016-2025 there is a need for policy coherence and alignment across policy sectors and the use of policy mixes. STIPS should not be treated as a stand-alone policy regime but as a framework for mainstreaming STI across all sectors of the economy.
Innovation in economic sectors for structural transformation
Seychelle’s growth has been fuelled largely by developments in services particularly tourism and related sectors. While Seychelles can benefit from economic diversification opportunities during periods of growth are lost. Structural transformation processes usually characteristic of innovation-led growth have stalled in Seychelles since 2005. A key indicator of dynamic and active development is the presence of structural transformation processes. In Seychelles these have been modest since 2004. Structural transformation can be defined as the movement of labour and other productive resources from economic activities of low-productivity to high-productivity (UNCTAD 2016). Alternatively structural transformation may be seen as the reallocation of economic activity expressed as their share in GDP across three broad sectors: agriculture industry and services (Herrendorf et al. 2013).
Seychelles development trajectory and sustainable development challenge
Seychelles is a high-income Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the western Indian Ocean that has a small and culturally diverse population and ecologically diverse environment. It is a high-income economy with a per capita income at $14340 GNI according to the Atlas method (current US dollars). Based on a purchasing power parity indicator (PPP) in current international dollars however the GNI per capita rises to $33480 in 2022. With regards to its Human Development Index (HDI) in 2021 it was ranked 72nd out of 189 countries (UNDP 2021/2022).
Forging international STI partnerships for sustainable development
To realize its aspirations espoused in Vision 2033 and NDS 2019 -2023 Seychelles will need to strategically invest in building STI partnerships at all levels. Partnerships in STI can take different forms including public-private bilateral regional multilateral continental as well as with international organizations and development partners.
Seychelles’ framework conditions for innovation
Framework conditions for innovation shape and influence the innovation ecosystem in a country. They do so by enabling individuals businesses and organizations to innovate. Certain conditions and policy efforts can encourage and support innovation fostering economic growth competitiveness and societal progress. Other key elements of framework conditions for innovation include regulations and standards funding and infrastructure for research and development digital and logistics infrastructures an actively managed innovation ecosystem a skilled and educated workforce trade openness a positive entrepreneurial culture and risk-taking attitudes and active international collaborations in STI among others. Finally policymakers must embrace a sciencebased approach to sustainable development challenges as an unavoidable framework condition for innovation.
Acknowledgements
This Science Technology and Innovation Policy Review (STIP Review) of Seychelles was undertaken by the Technology Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch of the Division on Technology and Logistics of UNCTAD under the guidance of Angel Gonzalez-Sanz Head of the Branch and the direct supervision of Liping Zhang Chief of the Science Technology and Innovation for Development Section who also leads the UNCTAD Project on Technology Assessment in the Energy and Agricultural Sectors in Africa to Accelerate Progress on Science Technology and Innovation.
Introduction
This report reviews the implementation of the 2016-2025 STI Policy and Strategy (STIPS) and assess the country’s national innovation system. The review was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles conducted between November 2022 and September 2023. The review involved a participatory process that included a fact-finding mission and a stakeholders’ workshop in Seychelles in November 2022 a comprehensive desk review of national policy documents and reports interviews with 39 persons from a number of organizations a national workshop reviewing the draft text of this document held on 25 September 2023 and a capacity building workshop on 26 and 27 September 2023. Draft versions of the review were provided for comments and inputs to the MIEI and the DSTI.
Summary
The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Review of Seychelles was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles. The request was made in the context of the UNCTAD project on Technology Assessment in the energy and agricultural sectors in Africa to accelerate progress on science technology and innovation and this Review is one of its products.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the 5 United Nations regional commissions administered by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It was established in 1947 with the mandate to help rebuild post-war Europe develop economic activity and strengthen economic relations among European countries and between Europe and the rest of the world. During the Cold War UNECE served as a unique forum for economic dialogue and cooperation between East and West. Despite the complexity of this period significant achievements were made with consensus reached on numerous harmonization and standardization agreements.
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According to the UNECE data for the year 2021 significant disparities exist in road traffic accident fatality and injury rates among UNECE member States as illustrated in figures I and II respectively. These figures underscore the variations in road safety metrics across the region.
Statistics of Road Traffic Accidents in Europe and North America 2023
This publication (volume LVII) presents annual statistics on road traffic accidents and provides comparable data on causes types and results of accidents in Europe Canada and the United States. Data are organized by nature of accident and surroundings; accidents while under the influence of alcohol; and the number of persons killed or injured by category or road user and age group. As background data figures on the number of road vehicles in use and vehicle-kilometers run by road vehicles are also provided along with estimates of population and distribution by age group. This annual publication contains important statistical information for those involved in transportation planning and road safety issues.