聯(lián)合國貿(mào)易發(fā)展委員會-科學(xué)、技術(shù)和創(chuàng)新政策評論：塞舌爾（英）

UNITEDNATIONSCONFERENCEONTRADEANDDEVELOPMENT

Policyreview

ScienceTechnologyand

InnovationPolicyReview:

Seychelles

UNITEDNATIONSCONFERENCEONTRADEANDDEVELOPMENT

Policyreview

ScienceTechnologyand

InnovationPolicyReview:

Seychelles

Geneva,2024

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

?2024,UnitedNations

Allrightsreservedworldwide

RequeststoreproduceexcerptsortophotocopyshouldbeaddressedtotheCopyrightClearanceCenterat.

Allotherqueriesonrightsandlicences,includingsubsidiaryrights,shouldbeaddressedto:

UnitedNationsPublications

405East42ndStreet

NewYork,NewYork10017

UnitedStatesofAmerica

Email:publications@

Website:

/

Thefindings,interpretationsandconclusionsexpressedhereinarethoseoftheauthor(s)anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheUnitedNationsoritsofficialsorMemberStates.

ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofmaterialonanymapinthisworkdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,cityorareaorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.

MentionofanyfirmorlicensedprocessdoesnotimplytheendorsementoftheUnitedNations.Thispublicationhasbeeneditedexternally.

UnitedNationspublicationissuedbytheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment

UNCTAD/DTL/TIKD/2024/1

ISBN:978-92-1-003126-4

eISBN:978-92-1-358926-7

SalesNo.E.24.II.D.9

ii

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Acknowledgements

ThisScienceTechnologyandInnovationPolicyReview(STIPReview)ofSeychelleswasundertakenbytheTechnology,InnovationandKnowledgeDevelopmentBranchoftheDivisiononTechnologyandLogisticsofUNCTAD,undertheguidanceofAngelGonzalez-Sanz,HeadoftheBranch,andthedirectsupervisionofLipingZhang,ChiefoftheScience,TechnologyandInnovationforDevelopmentSection,whoalsoleadstheUNCTADProjectonTechnologyAssessmentintheEnergyandAgriculturalSectorsinAfricatoAccelerateProgressonScience,TechnologyandInnovation.

AtUNCTAD,theReportwaspreparedbyDimoCalovski,withthereportstructurefinalizedbyLipingZhangandinputsprovidedbyMatteoRaminaontheagrivoltaicstechnologyassessmentundertakenbyUNCTADforSeychelles.ThereviewalsobenefitedfromcommentsandsuggestionsprovidedbyAngelGonzalez-Sanz.

UNCTADgratefullyacknowledgesthecontributionsofJohnMugabe,Professor,UniversityofPretoria.

CommentsfromstakeholdersinSeychelleswereprovidedduringtwonationalstakeholdermeetingsheldon23November2022and25-27September2023.

UNCTADworkedcloselywiththeDivisionofScience,TechnologyandInnovation(DSTI)undertheMinistryofInvestment,EntrepreneurshipandIndustryofSeychelles,withoutwhosecollaborationthepreparationofthisSTIPReviewwouldnothavebeenpossible.High-levelofficialsintheministrysupportedthereviewprocessthroughtheirparticipationinvariousmeetingsincludingthestakeholdermeetings.UNCTADthankstheMinistryforitsstrongsupportforthisproject.

ThemanuscriptwaseditedbyJenniferGalOr.AtUNCTAD,MagaliStuderdesignedthecoverandoveralllayout.GraphicsanddesktoppublishingwereundertakenbyGillesMaury,whileXiahuiXinprovidedadministrativesupport.

iii

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Abbreviations

4IR

FourthIndustrialRevolution

AfCFTA

AfricanContinentalFreeTradeArea

AfDB

AfricanDevelopmentBank

AI

ArtificialIntelligence

AISEC

InternationalAssociationofStudentsinEconomicsandBusiness

ARIPO

AfricanRegionalIntellectualPropertyOrganization

AU

AfricanUnion

AUDA

AfricanUnionDevelopmentAgency

ASTII

AfricanScience,TechnologyandInnovationIndicators

BERM

BlueEconomyRoadMap

BIT

Bilateralinvestmenttreaty

BTI

BusinessandTechnologyIncubator

CBS

CentralBankofSeychelles

COMESA

CommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica

CSR

CorporateSocialResponsibility

DIAE

DivisiononInvestmentandEnterprise

DICT

DepartmentofInformationCommunicationsTechnology

DOIED

DepartmentofIndustryandEntrepreneurshipDevelopment

DSTI

DivisionofScience,TechnologyandInnovation

EPF

EntrepreneurshipPolicyFramework

ESA

EnterpriseSeychellesAgency

EU

EuropeanUnion

FCA

FairCompetitionAct

FDI

Foreigndirectinvestment

FSA

FinancialServicesAuthority

GDP

GrossDomesticProduct

GERD

GrossExpenditureonResearchandDevelopment

HDI

HumanDevelopmentIndex

iv

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

IASTE

InternationalAssociationfortheExchangeofStudentsforTechnicalExperience

ILO

InternationalLabourOrganization

IMF

InternationalMonetaryFund

IP

Intellectualproperty

IPA

InvestmentPromotionAgency

MIEI

MinistryofInvestment,EntrepreneurshipandIndustry

NDS

NationalDevelopmentStrategy2019-2023

NEPAD

NewPartnershipforAfrica’sDevelopment

NIS

NationalInnovationSystem

NISTI

NationalInstituteforScience,TechnologyandInnovation

PUC

ThePublicUtilitiesCompany

R&D

ResearchandDevelopment

SADC

SouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunity

SCS

SeychellesCableSystems

SIDS

SmallIslandDevelopingStates

S&T

ScienceandTechnology

SoEs

State-ownedenterprises

STEM

Science,technology,engineeringandmathematics

STI

Science,TechnologyandInnovation

STIPS

2016-2025Science,TechnologyandInnovationPolicyandStrategy

STISA

2024Science,TechnologyandInnovationStrategyforAfrica

TVET

TechnicalandVocationalEducationandTraining

UN

UnitedNations

UNCTAD

UnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment

UNESCO

UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNIDO

UnitedNationsIndustrialDevelopmentOrganization

WIPO

WorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization

v

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Contents

Acknowledgements iii

Abbreviations iv

Keyrecommendations ix

Summary x

I.Introduction

1

II.Seychellesdevelopmenttrajectoryandsustainabledevelopment

challenge

5

III.ImplementationandeffectivenessofthecurrentSTIpolicyframeworks11

1.EffectivenessofSTIPS2016-2025

11

2.ImplementationchallengesforSTIPolicy2016-2025

13

3.OtherpolicyframeworkssupportingSTI

16

IV.ForginginternationalSTIpartnershipsforsustainabledevelopment

19

V.Seychelles’frameworkconditionsforinnovation

23

1.Policyframeworks

23

2.Entrepreneurshipandeaseofdoingbusiness

25

3.Education

26

4.Researchandinnovationoutputs

30

5.Firmincubationandinnovationparks

31

6.Intellectualproperty

32

VI.Nationalinnovationsystem

41

1.Actorsandinstitutionallinkages

41

2.Analysisofstrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsofSeychelles’NIS

43

3.ChallengesforestablishingafunctionalNIS

44

VII.Innovationineconomicsectorsforstructuraltransformation

45

1.Tourism

47

2.Financialservices

47

3.Fisheries

48

4.Agriculture

50

VIII.Summaryoffindingsandkeyrecommendations

53

1.Reviewoffindings

53

2.Keyrecommendations

54

vi

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Annex1:Keyeconomicindicators

58

Annex2:Strengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsanalysis

framework

59

Annex3:KeyinstitutionalactorsinSeychelles’NIS

62

Annex4:Strengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsanalysisof

Seychelles’NIS

63

Annex5:OverviewofSTIprovisionsinvariouskeyframeworks

65

References

66

Tables

Table1:ProgressinSDGsinSeychelles

7

Table2:Overviewofthedistributionandenrolmentineducationandtraining

26

Table3:UniversityandvocationaleducationinstitutionsinSeychelles

27

Table4:Seychelles’scientificpublications2017-2019

30

Table5:IPfiledbySeychellesresidentsdomesticallyandabroad

33

Table6:Patentapplicationsfileddomesticallyandabroadbyresidentapplicants

35

Figures

Figure1:ProgressinSDGsinSeychelles

8

Figure2:EaseofdoingbusinessinSeychelles–globalrankingandcomponents

(190countries)

26

Figure3:IPapplicationsfiledbySeychellesresidentsdomesticallyandabroad

34

Figure4:AveragecostofoneGBofdata

37

Figure5:PercapitaenergygenerationinSeychellesandcomparators(kWhpercapita)..38

Figure6:Sectorvalueaddedandtransformationdynamics

46

Figure7:DiversificationinSeychellesandcomparators

46

Boxes

Box1:Innovativeandscalablesystemsforsolidwastemanagement

9

Box2:STIpolicyroadmapforSeychelles

21

Box3:Business,TechnologyandInnovation(BTI)Incubator

31

Box4:IntellectualpropertyinSIDSandlesspopulatedcountries

35

Box5:Innovationandpolicysupportforfisheriesindevelopingcountries

49

Box6:Technologyassessment-AgrivoltaicsinSeychelles

51

vii

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Keyrecommendations

?Buildabroad-basedpoliticalandpubliccompactforSTItoenhancetheunderstandingofandengagementinSTIpolicyamongallpoliticalactors,especiallythelegislativeassembly.ThisinvolvesimprovingSTIpolicyliteracyamongparliamentariansandpoliticiansanddevelopingmechanismsfortheNationalAssembly’sengagementinSTIpolicy.PublicawarenessaboutSTIprogrammesandactivitiesshouldbeincreasedthroughcollaborativeeffortsinvolvingtheGovernment,media,non-governmentalorganizations,developmentpartners,andeducationalinstitutions.

?ReviewtheinstitutionalarrangementsforSTItoestablishanautonomousnationalorganizationforSTIpolicyandNIScoordination.Proposalsshouldbeinformedbyanindependentanalysisanddrawlessonsfrominternationalbestpractices.Thisprocessshouldalsoaddressissuesoftrust-buildingandpolicyliteracy,reflectingonthetendencytowardsinstitutionalsiloing.

?RevisethecurrentnationalSTIPolicyandStrategy2016-2025(STIPS)toreflectrecentscientificandtechnologicaldevelopments,includingaspectsofthe4IR,openscience,andthegrowingroleoftheprivatesectorandcivilsocietyinSTIgovernance.Therevisedpolicyshouldexpanditsscopetoincluderecentdevelopments,aswellasthedevelopmentofastrongevidencebaseandparticipationintheGlobalInnovationIndex,andarticulateclearresearchprioritiesandinnovationareasintermsofsectorsandindustries.DevelopanimplementationplanforSTIPSupto2025.

?Setresearchandinnovationprioritiesusingtechnologyassessmentandtechnologyforesight.EstablishadefinedprocessforsettingR&Dandinnovationpriorities,aligningSTIinvestmentswithnational,regional,andglobalsustainabledevelopmentgoals.Participatoryandexpertexercisesshouldbeusedtogenerateandrevisemulti-yearSTIpolicyimplementationplans.

?EstablishaNationalInnovationandEntrepreneurshipFund.Thefundwouldmobilizepublicandprivatefinancialresourcestosupportfirmsandentrepreneursintheirinnovationresearchandcommercialization,andengagewithfundingalternativeslikeventurecapital,angelinvestors,andpublic-privatepartnerships.

?EstablishaNationalR&DFund.ThefundwouldservetoincreaseinvestmentinR&DandalignfundingwithnationalSTIpriorities,includingbyencouragingprivatesectorinvestmentinR&Dthroughmatchedfundingandfiscalincentives.

?StrengthenparticipationininternationalandregionalSTIprocesses.ThiswouldincludeactiveparticipationintheUnitedNations’CommissiononScienceandTechnologyforDevelopment(CSTD)andtheSTIForumaswellasdeeperengagementwiththeSouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunity(SADC),theAfricanUnion(AU),andtheSouthAfricanResearch&InnovationManagementAssociation,andothers.ItmayalsoincludeestablishingscienceandinnovationattachesinconsulatesorembassiestoenergizebilateralSTIcooperation,aswellasengagingwithitsowndiasporawhoaresuccessfulentrepreneurs,innovatorsandtechnologists.

?BuildacriticalmassofskillsforSTIpolicymaking,entrepreneurship,innovationmanagement,andR&D.Thisinvolvesdevelopingtechnicalandsoftskillsthrougheducationandtraining.Italsorequiresafocusondigitalskills,andthedevelopmentandconductofinnovationandentrepreneurshipcoursesforsmall-andmedium-sizedenterpriseentrepreneurs.Improvinglinkagesbetweenskillsdevelopmentanddemandinthelabourmarketisessential.SupportiveactivitieswillneedtobeprogrammedinasubsequentSTIplanandstrategyand,eventually,intherevisedSTIPolicypost2025.

?Improvefinancialservicesprovisionforsmall-andmedium-sizedenterprises,inparticularthoserelatedtoe-commerce.Accesstotradefinanceandfinancialinstrumentsforinternationaltransactions,includingsecureonlinecreditcardpayments,isnecessarytofostersmall-andmedium-sizedenterprises’engagementininternationalactivitiesandglobalvaluechains.

viii

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

Summary

TheScience,TechnologyandInnovation(STI)PolicyReviewofSeychelleswasconductedbytheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment(UNCTAD)attherequestoftheGovernmentofSeychelles.TherequestwasmadeinthecontextoftheUNCTADprojectonTechnologyAssessmentintheenergyandagriculturalsectorsinAfricatoaccelerateprogressonscience,technologyandinnovation,andthisReviewisoneofitsproducts.

ThereviewofSeychelles’NationalInnovationSystem(NIS)andtheimplementationofits2016-2025nationalScience,Technology,andInnovationPolicyandStrategy(STIPS)suggestsarangeofpolicyactionsandinstitutionalreforms.TheserecommendationsareessentialforinvigoratingtheNIS,therebyenablingSeychellestoharnessSTIandentrepreneurshipeffectivelytoachievethegoalssetinVision2033andtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).

TheSTIPS,whileadequatelyframedinmanyaspects,suffersfromweakimplementationduetovariousfactors,includinglimitedpoliticalsupportandengagement.TherepealoftheNationalInstituteforScience,TechnologyandInnovation(NISTI)Act,furthercomplicatesthesituation.

ManyoftheprovisionsoftheSTIPSremainunimplemented,primarilyduetotheweakenedinstitutionalcapacitycharacterizedbyalackofpersonnelanddedicatedfunding.Ofthese,thefailuretoestablishtheproposedNationalResearchFund,asenvisionedinthePolicyandStrategy,hashinderedthecountry’sabilitytomobilizedomesticandinternationalresourcesforSTI.TheSTIPS,whilefocusedoninnovationandentrepreneurship,lackadequateprovisionsforscience-informedpolicy-makingandgovernanceofemergingtechnologieslikeAIandFourthIndustrialRevolution(4IR)technologies.Thisindicatesaneedforthepolicytobeupdatedorthoroughlyrevised.

Despitethesechallenges,theNationalInstituteforScienceTechnologyandInnovation(NISTI)–whichtransformedin2021intotheDivisiononScience,TechnologyandInnovation(DSTI)oftheMinistryofInvestmentEntrepreneurshipandIndustry(MIEI)–hasplayedakeyroleininitiatingseveralinitiatives.TheserangefromSTEMprogrammesforschools,ResearchandDevelopment(R&D)andinnovationsurveys,thedevelopmentoftheBusiness,TechnologyandInnovation(BTI)Incubator,andactivelycontributingtothedesignoftheBlueEconomyplanandvariousregionalandinternationalSTIprogrammes.

DrivingtheimplementationoftheSTIPSanddevelopingastrongunderstandingoftheeconomicrationaleforanactiveSTIpolicycanbenefitfromawell-funded,competentandactiveagency.ThecurrentsituationhighlightstheneedfordevelopingcommunicationcompetencyinDSTIandcameoutveryclearlyduringthecapacitybuildingworkshopinSeptember2023.BuildingastrongpublicawarenesscampaignforSTIisoneofthemainrecommendationsofthisreview.

TheproposedrecommendationsinthisreviewaimtocreateamoredynamicandeffectiveNISinSeychelles,therebypropellingthecountrytowardrealizingitsVision2033andfulfillingtheSDGsthroughstrengthenedSTIcapabilities.

Inconclusion,whileSeychelleshasfoundationalelementsforleveragingSTItowardsachievingtheSDGs,thepolicyfoundationsareweak,whileopportunitiesaresignificant.

StrengtheningpolicyfoundationsforSTIwouldrequirestrategicinterventionstoenhanceinstitutionalcapacitiesandpolicyimplementationaswellasupdatepolicyframeworkstoreflectcontemporarytechnologicaladvancementsandgovernanceneeds.

ix

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

I.Introduction

Thisreportreviewstheimplementationofthe2016-2025STIPolicyandStrategy(STIPS)andassessthecountry’snationalinnovationsystem.ThereviewwasconductedbytheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment(UNCTAD)attherequestoftheGovernmentofSeychelles,conductedbetweenNovember2022andSeptember2023.Thereviewinvolvedaparticipatoryprocessthatincludedafact-findingmissionandastakeholders’workshopinSeychellesinNovember2022,acomprehensivedeskreviewofnationalpolicydocumentsandreports,interviewswith39personsfromanumberoforganizations,anationalworkshopreviewingthedrafttextofthisdocumentheldon25September2023,andacapacitybuildingworkshopon26and27September2023.DraftversionsofthereviewwereprovidedforcommentsandinputstotheMIEIandtheDSTI.

Thereportisstructuredasfollows:

ChapterIIintroducesthedevelopmenttrajectoryofthecountryandthechallengesthecountryisfacinginsustainabledevelopment.Seychelles,ahigh-incomeSmallIslandDevelopingState,facesuniqueinnovationchallenges.Despiteitshighpercapitaincomeandpoliticalstability,theeconomyisheavilyreliantontourismandfisheries,makingitvulnerabletoenvironmentalchanges.TheGovernment’sVision2033emphasizesscience,technology,andinnovation(STI)indevelopmentandsustainability,focusingonasustainableBlueEconomyandclimatechange.

ThechapterrevealsthatwhileSeychellesisontracktoattainseveraltargetsofcertainSDGs(e.g.,SDG1,SG2,SDG3andSDG5),itlagsinSDGsrelatingtoSTI(e.g.,SDG9onindustry,infrastructureandinnovation).ThisunderminesprospectsofenduringthetransitiontosustainabilityandattainingtheSDGs.AnypriorprogressmadeinattainingcertainSDGsmaybereversediftheeconomyisnotdiversifiedthroughindustrialchangewhichinpartisdependentontheavailabilityanduseofskillsininnovation,technologyandentrepreneurship.Challengesincluderelianceonlow-costlabour,highICTcosts,energydependenceonfossilfuels,andgenderdisparitiesinSTEM.Effortsine-Governanceandeducationaimtoaddresstheseissues,butsignificanthurdlesremaininfullyharnessingSTIforsustainabledevelopment.

ChapterIIIreviewstheimplementationandeffectivenessoftheSTIPS2016-2025andotherrelevantpolicyframeworks.STIPS2016-2025iswell-alignedwithVision2033andtheNationalDevelopmentStrategy(NDS)2019-2023,whichaimtotransitionthecountrytoaknowledge-basedandinnovation-driveneconomy.Developedthroughparticipatoryprocesses,STIPSfocusesonmainstreamingSTIacrossallsectorsandincludesexplicitandimplicitprovisionsinvariousnationalpolicies,coveringareaslikeFDI,intellectualproperty,andtheblueeconomy.

However,itsimplementationfaceschallengesduetoweakinstitutionallinkages,limitedresources,andlackofpoliticalsupport.TherestructuringofNISTIintotheDSTIinMIEIhasraisedconcernsaboutinstitutionalcapacityforSTIPSimplementation.Basedoninterviews,availabledata,andanalysisofstrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreats,thesectionidentifiesandreviewsthefollowing:STIpolicyactionsandpolicyframeworksaddressingeducationandtraining,industrialization,foreigndirectinvestment,entrepreneurship,intellectualpropertyprotection,tourism,agriculture,health,blueeconomy,andenvironmentalandnaturalresourcesmanagement.

ChapterIVexaminesSeychelles’participationininternational,continentalandregionalaswellasbilateralSTIcooperationprogrammesandpolicyprocesses.ItreviewsthedifferentpartnershipsorcollaborationsthatthecountryisengagedinandhowtheycontributetotheattainmentofSTIpolicyobjectives.KeyfactorsinfluencingSeychelles’participationinmultilateralcooperationandpublic-privatepartnershipsinSTIareidentifiedandanalysed.Oneof

1

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

theissueshighlightedinthischapteristhatgivenSeychelles’smallpopulation,itneedstoforgestrategicinternationalpartnershipsandstrengthenpublic-privatepartnershipsinSTI.ThecountrywillneedtodevelopandfinanceanimplementationstrategyforsuchSTIpartnerships.

ChapterVlooksatSeychelles’frameworkconditionsforinnovation.Itdiscusses11frameworkconditionsthatarerelevanttoSeychelles’development,rangingfrompolicyframeworkstoeducationsystem,entrepreneurshipculture,researchandinnovation,infrastructure,intellectualpropertyprotectionandregulationsandstandards.Frameworkconditionsforinnovationshapeandinfluencetheinnovationecosysteminacountry.Theydosobyenablingindividuals,businesses,andorganizationstoinnovate.

Certainconditionsandpolicyeffortscanencourageandsupportinnovation,fosteringeconomicgrowth,competitiveness,andsocietalprogress.Otherkeyelementsofframeworkconditionsforinnovationincluderegulationsandstandards,fundingandinfrastructureforresearchanddevelopment,digitalandlogisticsinfrastructures,anactivelymanagedinnovationecosystem,askilledandeducatedworkforce,tradeopenness,apositiveentrepreneurialcultureandrisk-takingattitudes,andactiveinternationalcollaborationsinSTI,amongothers.

ChapterVIfocusesonSeychelles’nationalinnovationsystem.Seychelles’NIScomprisesvariousactors,includingpublicresearchinstitutes,universities,state-ownedenterprises,privatecompanies,policy-makingbodies,andnon-governmentalorganizations.Theseactorsengageinactivitiessuchasscientificknowledgeproduction,educationandtraining,fundingSTI,andformulatingSTIpolicies.However,SeychelleshasasmallerNIScomparedtolargercountries,primarilyduetoitssmallpopulation.

ThemainactorsinSeychelles’NISareentrepreneursandfirms,whilepublicsectororganizationssuchasMIEIanditsDSTIplaycrucialroles.However,public-privatepartnershipsinSTIareweak,andthereisalackoftrustandcooperationbetweenpublicandprivateinstitutions.SeychellesfaceschallengesinimplementingSTIinitiativesduetolimitedfundingandhumanresources.Thecountry’sR&Dproductivityismodest,withlimiteddataonR&Dandinnovationoutputs.Effortstosupportstart-upsthroughinitiativesliketheBusiness,Technology,andInnovationIncubatorarehinderedbyresourceconstraints.Seychelleshaspotentialindevelopingintellectualproperty(IP)forplantvarietiesandgeographicalindicationsbutneedstodedicatemorepolicyattentioninthisarea.

ChapterVIIdiscussesinnovationinspecificeconomicsectorsforSeychelles’structuraltransformation.Since2005,Seychelleshasexperiencedstalledstructuraltransformation,witheconomicgrowthprimarilydrivenbytheservicessector,particularlytourism.Opportunitiesfordiversificationduringgrowthperiodshavebeenmissed,whileastructuralshiftfromlowtohighproductivityactivitieshasbeenmodest.Seychellesfaceschallengesinscalingindustryandmanufacturingprimarilyduetoitssmalldomesticmarket.Otherfactorsareatplayaswell,suchasgeographiclocation,limitationsinenergyandprimaryresources,aswellasamodestindustrialheritage.

Afocusondigitalservicesandsectorsasaninnovationstrategyisconsideredmorefeasibleduetotheirabilitytoscalebeyondphysicallimitations.Seychelles’economyheavilyreliesontourism,whichmakesitvulnerabletoexternalshocksliketheCOVID-19pandemic.Effortsareunderwaytodiversifythetourismsectoritself,focusingoneco-,marine,andsportstourism,andintegratinggreenandrenewabletechnologies.Inthefinancialservicessector,opportunitieslieinoffshorebankingandfintech,reliantoneffectivepolicies,regulations,anddigitalinfrastructure.Thefisheriesindustryfacesimportantsustainabilitychallenges.Innovationanddiversificationarenecessaryforitssurvivalandafocusonsustainableaquafarmingsupportedbygreenenergymaybeapathworthpursuing.Inagriculture,innovationpotentialislimitedbyscalechallenges.TransformationopportunitiesexistintheICTsectors,sustainableenergy,andwater,andwastemanagement.

2

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

ThelastchapterpresentsasynthesisoffindingsandkeyrecommendationsthataddresschallengesinimplementingSTIpolicyframeworksandfosteringaneffectiveNSI.TheoverallmessageisthatmuchremainstobedonebytheGovernmenttoimplementtheSTIPS.Mostofthepolicyobjectivesareunrealized,andtheNISremainsrelativelyweak,thusunderminingprospectsofattainingVision2033’saspirationsofbecomingaknowledge-based,innovation-driven,sustainableandinclusiveeconomy.However,therearemanyopportunitiesandSeychellesiswellpositionedtotakeadvantageofitsstrong,albeitundiversified,economy,andstablegovernance.WiththerightSTIpoliciesandforesight,developmentalthreats,suchasthosearisingfromclimatechangeandenvironmentaldegradation,andchallengestosocialinclusion,canbemitigatedandusedtopivottowardsamoretechnologicalandinnovativedevelopmentpath.

3

SeychellesScience,Technology&InnovationPolicyReview

II.Seychellesdevelopment

trajectoryandsustainable

developmentchallenge

Seychellesisahigh-incomeSmallIslandDevelopingState(SIDS)inthewesternIndianOceanthathasasmallandculturallydiversepopulationandec