This third report of the African Innovation Outlook (AIO-3) covers a period during which major developments have taken place in the African Union policy processes. In 2013, the African Union adopted the Agenda 2063 which is a 50-year vision of the aspirations of the idea of the “Africa We Want” in 2063. The vision is buttressed on an Africa that is committed to laying a strong foundation in science, technology and innovation. The first Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 has programmes which are aimed at promoting science, technology and innovation, as well as the application of STI in the economic development activities of the continent.

In 2014, the African Union adopted the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa, 2014-2024 (STISA 2024), which has laid out pre-requisites, pillars, priority areas and investments that are required in order to meet the necessary development in STI. STISA has presented a delivery model that calls for pluralistic participation in the STI activities involving public and private sectors, as well as development communities.
On the global scene, the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in 2015. The 17 SDGs have STI embedded in each one of them, including the application of STI in the various SDGs, developing capacity in STEM and integrating science diplomacy in partnerships at national, regional and international levels. The AIO-3 has therefore, examined the future measurements that need to be considered when monitoring the development of STI on the continent.