Innovations are considered fundamental for stimulating beneficial
long-term economic and social development in Africa. Recently, the
African Union launched its first ever science, technology and innovation
(STI) strategy. Many African states have developed their own innovation
policies and practices. However, too often innovation policies are
imported from more developed countries. This may lead to similar
structures in innovation systems but will not lead to similar
developmental outcomes. The research and development environments for
STI are substantially weaker in most African countries. Furthermore, the
imported policies and practices do not acknowledge the opportunities
and comparative advantages emerging from African contexts. For instance,
African countries have an extended, long-term diversity in local
knowledge and an urgent necessity for challenge-based, responsible
innovations. In this article, we illustrate a novel conceptual framework
and several examples to identify relevant actors, knowledge bases and
innovations in and for Africa. We also present related policy
recommendations.