I'm jumping in late into this debate...

I have come to appreciate that education-oriented policy interventions do precede innovations to some extent.
(1) Late last year, I discovered that the main Ushahidi developers started coding in Secondary school. I think the policy to start IT education in high school - late 1990s -  might have contributed to some innovation we're experiencing today. Also, perhaps the general population's capacity to consume tech products.

(2) Some visiting Finnish entrepreneurs also pointed to education reforms as the source of the IT-related innovation. Just to quote a section (pg 60) of: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1099079877269/547664-1099079967208/Education_in_Finland_May06.pdf

"In August, 1982, the government approved a technology policy. . It said that the basics of 
information technology must be taught starting in comprehensive school........"

So Linux Torvald's 1992 invention of Linux (10 years later) can be taken in context. Of course, Finland is home to many more innovations. 

I recently had an opportunity to visit Helsinki and had to ask for directions. 4 out of 4 times, the answers came back with puzzling but fairly accurate numerical approximations. Eg you're about 1.2km from your hotel.... go turn left at the corner,  walk about 300m etc etc.  How can only 5 million people be so innovative? 


Of course, regulatory policy should (and will always) trail innovation. 

My 2 cents

From: David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd <kianiadee@gmail.com>
To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] What is Innovation?

Aki,

You have missed the point, we are discussing the Platform rather than
the content which is what I wanted to emphasize. What I love about the
presentation is the fact that ideas and innovation are seldom "Eureka"
moments rather many people chipping into an idea until a final product
is arrived at which we call innovation. That was your question wasn't
it?

I also differ with you that innovation requires government/policy
intervention, policy and legislation trails innovation 100% of the
time. Let's think about our local examples, Growth of mobile
telephony, MPESA, to mention a few. In actual fact policy curtails
innovation, and should come as late in the process as possible.

I also tend to think that most innovations hardly reach the public
domain, since they focus on meeting people's needs and not publicity.

My thoughts, by the way welcome back.


Kiania D.

PS. I highly recommend 100 greatest discoveries from Science,
medicine, physics to chemistry by Bill Nye. Every family ought to have
this in their collection.

http://science.discovery.com/convergence/100discoveries/hostbio/billnye.html





On Sun, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:12 PM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Just had a more in-depth look into the TED thing.
>
> Here is the TED slogan :
>
> TED's mission of "Ideas Worth Spreading" now reaches far beyond the yearly
> conferences, encompassing a variety of projects and initiatives that seek to
> leverage the power of ideas to change the world.
>
> Really, the power of ideas to change the world? Amazing stuff BUT where?
>
> TED AFRICA 2007 : THE NEXT CHAPTER., ( NOW ITS 2011, updates please )
>
>
> - Anyone have updates of TED and contributors who have brought significant
> policy changes on innovation and ideas to Africa since 2007 where the impact
> of these contributions has been a moving factor of developmeny?. Please list
> them here and educate those of us who don't seem to get the picture.
>
> a)
> b)
> c)
> d)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--

[Asentric Consulting Ltd]

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