Dynamics of biosciences regulation and opportunities for biosciences innovation in Africa: Exploring regulatory policy brokering
Ann Kingiri & Andy Hall
#2011-023
Knowledge brokering has been explored in the innovation literature to
understand how different innovation tasks are organised toward
technological development. This paper reflects upon the role of
different organisations as knowledge brokers in regulatory policy
processes towards putting biosciences research into use. It identifies a
practical function-based typology that describes four categories of
policy brokers who perform different tasks, with the potential to impact
biosciences regulatory policy change. The paper concludes with a brief
exploration of how policy can support the different functions of
regulatory policy brokerage to enhance the translation of biosciences
research into use for the benefit of the poor. Using regulatory
policy-making in Kenya as an example, it contributes to growing
scholarship that seeks to link knowledge emanating from research with
policy-making and economic development, particularly in an African
context.
Key Words: Biosciences, Biotechnology Regulation, Knowledge Brokers,
Policy Brokering, Africa, Kenya
JEL Codes: L26, L31, L33, N5, N57, O13, O19, O31, O32, O33, O34, O55,
P48, Q12, Q13, Q16, Q28