The 2025 National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy is a multisectoral framework designed to realize the national vision of a country where science, technology, and innovation serve as key drivers of competitiveness, wealth creation, and sustainable development by 2030. The Policy revises the 2020 framework in response to the growing need to address new and emerging technologies and their role in national development. It identifies research and development (R&D), innovation promotion, and the transfer and adoption of technology as central pillars for advancing economic and social progress. The document outlines strategic interventions aimed at promoting applied research and development; advancing technology development, transfer, diffusion, and commercialization; strengthening the science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem; fostering stronger industry–research linkages; developing human resources; and enhancing the protection and promotion of intellectual property rights. Implementing this Policy effectively requires a four-level organizational structure: the Cabinet Office for overall policy direction, line ministries led by the STI ministry, specialized government agencies, and research institutions, universities, and R&D centers for activity implementation. The Policy sets out the following objectives and corresponding measures (i) strengthening research and development capacity. Measures focus on promoting research and development, reinforcing research ethics, enhancing local and international STI linkages, and promoting inclusivity in STI; (ii) strengthening the transfer, commercialisation, and diffusion of technology and innovation. Measures focus on promoting the development, transfer, diffusion, and commercialization of technology and innovation, and supporting enterprises that utilize STI outputs; (iii) exploiting Indigenous Knowledge for national development. Measures focus on protecting and preserving Indigenous Knowledge Systems, supporting research and teaching in IKS, encouraging commercialization of indigenous products and services, and fostering local and international collaboration; (iv) enhancing the integration and implementation of Artificial Intelligence. Measures focus on promoting the ethical use of AI, strengthening AI capacity development and research, and fostering local and international collaboration in AI development; (v) enhancing the implementation of space science and technology. Measures focus on strengthening the application of space science and technology, promoting research and capacity development, improving access to information, and fostering local and international collaboration; (vi) strengthening human resource capacity in science, technology, and innovation. Measures focus on building and sustaining human resource capacity, strengthening STEM education at all levels, and facilitating the engagement of STI experts in the diaspora; (vii) strengthening STI infrastructure. Measures focus on developing and upgrading STI infrastructure, strengthening collaborative linkages in infrastructure development, and ensuring quality assurance; (viii) enhancing the popularization of science, technology, and innovation. Measures focus on promoting public awareness of STI, encouraging the publication of scientific and technological outputs, and strengthening support systems for STI popularization; (ix) improving investment and funding for STI. Measures focus on increasing funding and investment for STI and strengthening resource mobilization; (x) strengthening the policy, legal, institutional, and operational framework of the STI ecosystem. Measures focus on reinforcing legal, governance, and institutional frameworks, improving coordination and implementation, enhancing monitoring and evaluation, and fostering local and international STI linkages.
Zambia · 2025-01-01