How well is R&D oriented to human development in South Africa?

Abstract

To measure policy progress, one key science, technology and innovation (STI) indicator has long captured the imagination of policy makers: gross domestic research and development expenditure (GERD) expressed as a proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country (GERD/GDP). In the context of South Africa, which was recently estimated to be the most unequal in the world, we need additional indicators to guide national expenditure to achieve the newly formulated policy goals and strategies of STI for ???inclusive and sustainable development???. This policy brief proposes a design for such a complementary indicator ??? human development oriented research and development (R&D) intensity ??? and shows how it can be used to assess progress. The goal is to shift the policy discourse to leverage a greater scale of investment in R&D oriented to human development.