Morocco allocates less than 1% GDP to Research Development, experts
Addis Ababa, Mar. 10 -
Despite Morocco's efforts in research development (R&D), it allocates only 0.79% of its GDP to the sector, which is not enough to catch up with other countries, according to two Moroccan experts.
Scientific research funding comes mainly from the state (92%), the private sector (6%) and the international cooperation (2%), noted Fouad Berrada, Professor at the Moroccan Al-Akhawayn University, on the sidelines of the conference on "Scientific cooperation with Africa" held March 3-6 in Addis Ababa, with the participation of 500 African and international scientists, decision-makers, and NGOs.
The private sector's input is deceptively low and "insignificant," Mr. Berrada deplored, urging businesses to further invest in scientific research and training that is considered a vital lever in growth and progress.
Echoing him, Mohamed Timoulali, ITs consultant at the Economic Commission for Africa, said that with less than 1% of GDP directed towards scientific research, Morocco has made non-negligible efforts in promoting this sector. He voiced hope that Morocco adopts a national policy, which puts research and development at the heart of its priorities in the process of its overall social and economic development.
Despite this low percentage, Morocco is considered among the African countries that devote a large share of their GDPs to R&D by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Like South Africa, Tunisia, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco "has achieved progress in terms of R&D by exceeding the minimum threshold of 0.4/0.5% of GDP devoted to this sector," according to an ECA press release issued on the eve of this conference.
Dubbed "Invest in the future: expenditures on R&D in Africa", the document notes that Morocco is among the rare African countries where R&D activities are “funded and carried out by a large set of sectors.”
The document shows that Africa has the lowest number of researchers in the world with 1.1%, lagging behind Latin America, the Caribbean and Oceania (2.5% and 1.4% respectively), while Europe has 33.4% and North America 24.8%.
The conference on “Scientific partnership with Africa” recommended a minimum 1% GDP contribution for African countries to develop this area, and called upon decision makers to assist Moroccan researchers and Diaspora to participate in the development process.
source:
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/regional/morocco_allocates_le/view
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