The Science and Technology Information Center (STIC) is an Ethiopian organisation which provides information to support scientific and technological (S&T) activities in the country. STIC has published information on the financing of research and development and on the nature and progress of innovative projects, and in 2014 was planning to introduce bibliometric monitoring of publications in S&T. The center has also provided information and communications technology facilities including a digital library, a patent information system, an automated personnel management system, and a S&T-related database.
History
In 1977 the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission (ESTC) was first to evolve with the plan to set up the National Scientific and Technological Information and Documentation Center (NSTIDC). The institution was designed as an apex body and agency for initiating, furthering, strengthening and coordinating various facilities and services concerning the collection, organization and dissemination of scientific and technological information.
On 7 May 1987, the UNESCO representative and liaison officer to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Awad Idris, visited Addis Ababa and gave full information about UNESCO's participation in the establishment of the center. There was no implementation of the plan at that time and onwards until the establishment of STIC.
Science and Technology Information Center (STIC) was established on 15 December 2011 with the passing of a Council of Ministers regulation. After locating its headquarter at Bulgaria mazoriya in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the center published the first "Science and Technology Indicators Report" in August 2014, and two science and technology books named "Tech-Science" in the same year. STIC continues to publish these tech books quarterly. STIC also has a weekly 25-minute television broadcast in collaboration with Ethiopian Television.
Ethiopia Science Technology and Innovation policy ratified in 2012 envisages the creation of a national framework that will define and support how Ethiopia will in future search for, selection, adaptation, and utilization appropriate and effective foreign technologies as well as addressing the establishment of national innovation system. The objective of the policy is to create a technology transfer framework that enables the building of national capabilities in technological learning, adaptation and utilization through searching, selecting and importing effective foreign technologies in manufacturing and service providing enterprises.
Eleven critical policy issues are identified, based on the national STI problem analysis and assessment of the characteristics of countries selected as benchmarks for their best practices. These are: technology transfer, human resource development, manufacturing and service providing enterprises, research, financing and incentive schemes, national quality infrastructure development, universities, research institutes, TVET institutions and industries linkage, intellectual property system, science and technology information, environmental development and protection, and international cooperation.
The governance structure of the national innovation system is being implemented in a way to lead, support and monitor the implementation of the policy. The main actors of innovation system are: National Science, Technology and Innovation Council; Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST); and other related ministries and Innovation Support and Research System.
Science and technology information
Collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information related to science and technology is of significant importance for successful technology transfer. In Ethiopia there is no well-organized science and technology information source or system as required by manufacturing and service providing enterprises, higher education, researcher institutes and other entities.
