Entrepreneurship, Technology Commercialisation, and Innovation Policy in Africa

Dr Chux Uzoka Daniels holds a PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies from SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), University of Sussex, UK; in addition to an MBA, MSc and a Bachelor's degree. He is currently a Research Fellow in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy at SPRU; a role that involves research, teaching and supervision of postgraduate students, leadership and management. His current research areas cover STI policies and policymaking, innovation for transformative change, technology and entrepreneurship, indicators and metrics, policy evaluation, digitalisation, and capabilities. He is a member of the M&E Committee on the African Union Commission (AUC) continental Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024), in addition to various other high level policy, management and leadership roles. His on-going research and policy work include more than 10 African countries. He has delivered research andpolicy projects for organisations such as the AUC, European Union, Canada's IDRC, United Nations ESCAP, UNCTAD, the World Bank, GSMA, KPMG, and various governments across Africa. He is the Director of the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) Africa Hub. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM), Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Dr Mafini Dosso holds a PhD in Economics of innovation and a Master II degree in Economics of Industry and services from the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (France). Since 2017, Dr Mafini Dosso is leading the science-for-policy project "Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) with Africa" within the Unit B.3 Territorial development of the European Commission JRC's Directorate B. Growth and Innovation (Seville, Spain). Previously, she served for four years as an Economist and PolicyAnalyst at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville, Spain. Mafini has dedicated the first years of her career at the JRC to the analysis of technological and innovation trends of the world's largest innovative companies in order to provide evidence for industrial and innovation policies in the European Union (EU). She co-authored several international technical reports, articles and policy briefs on topics such as the dynamics of innovation in sectors and firms, the intelectual property rights (patents, trademarks, and designs) of companies, smart specialisation startegies, sustainable development policies, innovation and industrial policies, global innovation value chains, technology readiness and industry 4.0 both on sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.

Prior to joining the JRC, she was a consultant and policy research analyst for various projects including for the Innovation Policy Platform Initiative, a joint project of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and World Bank to support innovation policy making. Mafini also belongs to the Grant Independent Technical Committee of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). Mafini has an extensive tracks record of keynote presentations and high level communications in French, English and Spanish. She is also particularly engaged in the promotion of place-based innovation and entrepreneurial policies and of youth entrepreneurs in her native country Côte d'Ivoire, in West Africa and beyond through international and local associations on the continent.

Joe Amadi-Echendu earned BS and MS degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Wyoming, USA, and DPhil in Control Engineering from the University of Sussex, UK. He currently serves as a Professor of Engineering and Technology Management at the University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa; the Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Engineering Asset Management (www.iseam.org); as well as a Board Member and Treasurer of the International Association for the Management of Technology (www.iamot.com). Prof Amadi-Echendu is the founding Director of the Institute of Engineering, Technology and Innovation Management at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Joe commenced his career as an apprentice maintenance technician at a tyre manufacturing plant, and his expertise is also underpinned by his doctoral research in digital signal processing, condition monitoring and diagnostic engineering management of physical plants and processes. He has over 12 years' industry work experience, and 25+ years of academic experience in USA, UK, Nigeria and South Africa. His extensive experience and interests cover the broad fields of engineering and technology management with particular emphasis on the management of intellectual assets, engineering technologies, plant, equipment, and infrastructure assets. Dr Joe is registered as a chartered and professional engineer in the UK and South Africa and continues to teach and supervise postgraduate students, conduct research and provide consulting advice to industry on matters concerning technology commercialisation and engineering asset management.