Why investment in research and development is key in COVID-19 fight

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, African countries are facing a significant challenge in their response due to the lack of investment in research and development. According to experts, African nations invest only about 1% of their GDP in R&D, which is more than 10% less than more developed countries on average. This underinvestment is now coming to the forefront as the world grapples with the ongoing crisis. To delve deeper into this issue, CNBC Africa interviewed Natalie Wuniampenda, the Managing Director of the Next Einstein Forum, to discuss the importance of increasing R&D funding in Africa. Wuniampenda emphasized the need for coordinated research structures and long-term investments in R&D to effectively combat the current pandemic and prepare for future health crises. She pointed out that while some African countries have shown innovation in leveraging existing resources for contact tracing and e-health applications, there is a crucial need for formalized structures that support the entire research and development pipeline. The interview highlighted the critical role of collaboration among African nations in pooling their resources and expertise to address the pandemic. Wuniampenda cited examples of countries like Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya, each working on different aspects of the COVID-19 response, and stressed the importance of leveraging regional bodies and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to optimize production and distribution of essential medical supplies. The interview also touched on the need for scale-up in testing capabilities, emphasizing the importance of large labs that can process thousands of testing kits to enable effective monitoring and control of the virus's spread. Wuniampenda underscored the significance of funding in achieving these objectives, noting that African governments must increase their R&D spending and explore new financing mechanisms to support infrastructure development, research projects, and commercialization efforts. She highlighted the substantial investment required to transition research projects to industrial-scale production, citing the need for innovative funding instruments to bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Wuniampenda called for partnerships between governments, companies, and countries to drive investment in R&D and facilitate the growth of industries that create jobs and drive economic development. The interview concluded with a call to action for African governments to prioritize R&D funding as a strategic imperative for building a sustainable future and enhancing the continent's competitiveness on the global stage.