This collective dynamic is primarily based on the strengthening of institutional frameworks, the consolidation of technological ecosystems, and the increase in expenditures devoted to research and development. However, the structure of the scoring, which assigns an equivalent weighting of 50% between innovation inputs and outputs, reveals persistent asymmetries in the ability of nations to transform their investments into tangible results on international markets.

At the top of the continental ranking, the Republic of Mauritius stands out by entering the global top 50 for the first time at the fiftieth position with an overall score of 34.1 points, driven by the efficiency of its institutions and the refinement of its markets. Morocco, occupying the second African rank and the fifty-fourth place worldwide, confirms the performance of its intangible assets and creative products, while South Africa positions itself at the third continental rank at the sixty-third place. Behind this leading trio, countries such as Tunisia (71st), Botswana (82nd), and Egypt (83rd) illustrate the vitality of regional hubs, while other economies show the strongest progressions of the year, such as Rwanda, Madagascar, and Botswana. Conversely, many countries, including Cameroon ranked at the one hundred and twenty-first place worldwide, remain confined to the lower half of the global ranking, reflecting structural difficulties linked to the weakness of research infrastructures and the moderation of venture capital flows.

To reverse these trends and accelerate the emergence of a true knowledge economy, the least-ranked African countries must imperatively go beyond the mere formulation of intention-based policies and engage in deep structural reforms. Optimizing innovation performance requires a targeted increase in investments in human capital, improving the quality of interactions between universities and the productive fabric, and securing intellectual property rights. The continent's ability to durably establish itself on the global innovation map will depend on its capacity to convert its institutional potential into a pool of highly competitive technology enterprises.


The editorial team

Tags: innovation afrique écosystèmes technologiques classement mondial investissements r&d pôles régionaux capital humain propriété intellectuelle réformes structurelles économie du savoir infrastructures recherche