South Sudan's prosperity depends on more public universities serving more students — and focussing on S&T, not humanities, says John A. Akec.

The scientific community should create new intergovernmental organisations that promote innovative science in Africa, says Calestous Juma.

Angola has the money, connections and political will to be a force in African science. But will it tackle inequality, asks Linda Nordling.

North-South partnerships dominate university funding in Tanzania, but they are failing to build capacity, says Johnson M. Ishengoma.

Pragmatism must trump profit when African leaders commit to a green development agenda, argues Linda Nordling.

Nuclear power can benefit developing countries but requires long-term planning and an educated workforce, says Michael J. Mangala.

Ambitious plans for a 'desert development corridor' in Egypt could provide a concrete example of the social value of science, says Athar Osama.

Critics looking for more from the first African Innovation Outlook should realise it is a solid base on which to work, says Linda Nordling.

Egypt's 'science city' will not build a science culture without its people empowered by academic experience abroad, argues Austin Dacey.

Policies to stimulate African development require evidence that is difficult to obtain using existing indicators, says policy analyst Watu Wamae.

The African Union's new research and innovation survey is a treasure trove of data — and deserves better reporting, says Linda Nordling.

Science students will choose to study and work in Africa if they have access to high-quality training, says education adviser Sophie Rivière.

African innovation won't flourish unless more attention is paid to creating and sustaining markets for it, argues Linda Nordling.

Egypt has a chance to operate its science institutions as meritocracies — a difficult but critical task, says Bruce Alberts.

Nigeria must pass a biosafety law so the country's farmers can reap the benefits of GM technology, says Ademola A. Adenle.

Modern science cannot meet the demands of the developing world without harnessing indigenous knowledge, argues Charles Dhewa.

Solving Africa's problems needs not just technology, but social science — and a culture of debate, says Jonathan Harle.

South Africa's new development aid agency should help Africa capitalise on science, not just seek returns on investment, says Linda Nordling.

To make an impact, science and technology must embrace Africa's informal system of making and trading, argues Steve Daniels.

Many Sub-Saharan African technologies are languishing in labs because of a failure to commercialise them, say Ken Simiyu, Abdallah S.Daar and Peter A. Singer.