International Trade and Finance
Science Technology and Innovation Policy Review: Seychelles
The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Review of Seychelles was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles. The request was made in the context of the UNCTAD project on Technology Assessment in the energy and agricultural sectors in Africa to accelerate progress on science technology and innovation and this Review is one of its products. The review of Seychelles' National Innovation System (NIS) and the implementation of its 2016-2025 national Science Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy (STIPS) suggests a range of policy actions and institutional reforms. These recommendations are essential for invigorating the NIS thereby enabling Seychelles to harness STI and entrepreneurship effectively to achieve the goals set in Vision 2033 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report reviews the implementation of the 2016-2025 STI Policy and Strategy (STIPS) and assess the country’s national innovation system.
Implementation and effectiveness of the current STI policy frameworks
Seychelles Vision 2033 and the NDS 2019-2023 contain explicit provisions for promoting STI. The 2016-2025 Science Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy (STIPS) is well aligned with the Vision 2033 and the NDS. Mainstreaming STI across all sectors of the economy is key to realizing Vision 2033. In addition the Seychelles has an array of national policies which while not strictly in the mandate of the MIEI and DSTI can positively contribute to STI outcomes. These include policies for FDI intellectual property protection trade industrialization environmental conservation and climate change education and training public procurement ICT technology biosafety and the blue economy. Illustrative cases or examples are given to demonstrate that for successful implementation of STIPS 2016-2025 there is a need for policy coherence and alignment across policy sectors and the use of policy mixes. STIPS should not be treated as a stand-alone policy regime but as a framework for mainstreaming STI across all sectors of the economy.
Innovation in economic sectors for structural transformation
Seychelle’s growth has been fuelled largely by developments in services particularly tourism and related sectors. While Seychelles can benefit from economic diversification opportunities during periods of growth are lost. Structural transformation processes usually characteristic of innovation-led growth have stalled in Seychelles since 2005. A key indicator of dynamic and active development is the presence of structural transformation processes. In Seychelles these have been modest since 2004. Structural transformation can be defined as the movement of labour and other productive resources from economic activities of low-productivity to high-productivity (UNCTAD 2016). Alternatively structural transformation may be seen as the reallocation of economic activity expressed as their share in GDP across three broad sectors: agriculture industry and services (Herrendorf et al. 2013).
Seychelles development trajectory and sustainable development challenge
Seychelles is a high-income Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the western Indian Ocean that has a small and culturally diverse population and ecologically diverse environment. It is a high-income economy with a per capita income at $14340 GNI according to the Atlas method (current US dollars). Based on a purchasing power parity indicator (PPP) in current international dollars however the GNI per capita rises to $33480 in 2022. With regards to its Human Development Index (HDI) in 2021 it was ranked 72nd out of 189 countries (UNDP 2021/2022).
Forging international STI partnerships for sustainable development
To realize its aspirations espoused in Vision 2033 and NDS 2019 -2023 Seychelles will need to strategically invest in building STI partnerships at all levels. Partnerships in STI can take different forms including public-private bilateral regional multilateral continental as well as with international organizations and development partners.
Seychelles’ framework conditions for innovation
Framework conditions for innovation shape and influence the innovation ecosystem in a country. They do so by enabling individuals businesses and organizations to innovate. Certain conditions and policy efforts can encourage and support innovation fostering economic growth competitiveness and societal progress. Other key elements of framework conditions for innovation include regulations and standards funding and infrastructure for research and development digital and logistics infrastructures an actively managed innovation ecosystem a skilled and educated workforce trade openness a positive entrepreneurial culture and risk-taking attitudes and active international collaborations in STI among others. Finally policymakers must embrace a sciencebased approach to sustainable development challenges as an unavoidable framework condition for innovation.
Acknowledgements
This Science Technology and Innovation Policy Review (STIP Review) of Seychelles was undertaken by the Technology Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch of the Division on Technology and Logistics of UNCTAD under the guidance of Angel Gonzalez-Sanz Head of the Branch and the direct supervision of Liping Zhang Chief of the Science Technology and Innovation for Development Section who also leads the UNCTAD Project on Technology Assessment in the Energy and Agricultural Sectors in Africa to Accelerate Progress on Science Technology and Innovation.
Introduction
This report reviews the implementation of the 2016-2025 STI Policy and Strategy (STIPS) and assess the country’s national innovation system. The review was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles conducted between November 2022 and September 2023. The review involved a participatory process that included a fact-finding mission and a stakeholders’ workshop in Seychelles in November 2022 a comprehensive desk review of national policy documents and reports interviews with 39 persons from a number of organizations a national workshop reviewing the draft text of this document held on 25 September 2023 and a capacity building workshop on 26 and 27 September 2023. Draft versions of the review were provided for comments and inputs to the MIEI and the DSTI.
Summary
The Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Review of Seychelles was conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the request of the Government of Seychelles. The request was made in the context of the UNCTAD project on Technology Assessment in the energy and agricultural sectors in Africa to accelerate progress on science technology and innovation and this Review is one of its products.
Introducción y finalidad
Durante los últimos decenios las negociaciones comerciales multilaterales y regionales y la liberalización unilateral han reducido sustancialmente los tipos arancelarios. Las medidas no arancelarias (MNA) sin embargo representan un creciente desafío para los exportadores y los encargados de la formulación de políticas. La capacidad de obtener acceso a los mercados y beneficiarse de ese acceso depende cada vez más de que se cumplan medidas de regulación del comercio como las prescripciones sanitarias y las normas sobre productos. La Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Comercio y Desarrollo (UNCTAD) ha estado participando activamente en estudios y actividades sobre cuestiones relacionadas con las medidas no arancelarias. En 1994 la UNCTAD empezó a recopilar y clasificar las medidas. El Sistema de Análisis e Información Comercial (TRAINS) de la UNCTAD sigue siendo la base de datos más completa sobre las medidas aunque ha necesitado mejoras sustantivas para adecuarse a la creciente complejidad y necesidad de los datos. A fin de formular una estrategia para reducir la falta de transparencia en 2006 la UNCTAD creo el Grupo de Personalidades Eminentes sobre las Barreras no Arancelarias integrado por economistas destacados de organizaciones internacionales. El Equipo de Apoyo Multiinstitucional (EAMI) prestó un apoyo considerable. Como resultado la UNCTAD el Banco Africano de Desarrollo el Centro de Comercio Internacional y el Banco Mundial pusieron en marcha la Iniciativa Transparencia en el Comercio. La UNCTAD lidera las iniciativas internacionales dirigidas a recopilar datos sobre las medidas.
Distinción entre las medidas sanitarias y fitosanitarias y los obstáculos técnicos al comercio
La diferencia entre los capítulos sobre las medidas sanitarias y fitosanitarias y los obstáculos técnicos al comercio puede ser difícil de apreciar en algunos casos. Por regla general se respetan los principios establecidos en los acuerdos pertinentes de la OMC.