Rough road to the market: Constrained biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Ghana

In: Journal of international development: the journal of the Development Studies Association, Band 22, Heft 7, S. 962-977

Abstract

AbstractThe paper analyses collaborative learning in knowledge generation in biotechnology in two very late follower economies, namely, Nigeria and Ghana in order to compare the innovation and entrepreneurship experiences they present. We suggest that the quality of physical infrastructure, knowledge infrastructure (including appropriate human skills), in addition to institutions and incentives for innovation contribute in large part to observed processes of innovation success. Regardless of whether the initiating step is the incremental design or laboratory‐based R&D stage, these factors are critical determinants of commercialisation. We use empirical data from the public sector institutions collected through field level surveys to substantiate these results. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.