Synchronised action from universities, policymakers and scientists is needed to bridge the gap from ideas to impact
Africa exists in a paradox, as both an entrepreneurial and structurally constrained region. The continent has the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity globally, with around 20% of the population engaged in income generating ventures. However, approximately 85% of this activity sits in the informal sector. Therefore, there remains a glaring gap in science-driven and deep-tech ventures capable of transforming economies at scale.
Chemists should be at the centre of this transformation. We are taught that chemistry is the ‘central science’, yet its economic and industrial potential remains underused. Innovation is largely treated as something that happens after the research is done. But if regulatory awareness, business models and problem definition are not considered before research begins, even the most elegant scientific ideas risk irrelevance.
A missing foundation
One of the most persistent structural gaps is the weak integration of entrepreneurial and policy education within scientific training.
A straightforward intervention would be to integrate entrepreneurship and innovation training into university-level chemistry and science curricula. This would ensure that every graduate gains foundational literacy in innovation and venture creation, and that scientists are better equipped to translate research into impact. However, this solution has consequences, including curriculum overload in already dense programmes, significant upskilling required for chemistry instructors and the risk of superficial implementation if the process is not done rigorously.
Examples from other parts of the world demonstrate that entrepreneurship can be embedded into PhD training. China recently piloted engineering PhDs that prioritise product development over traditional theses, with the aim of boosting the nation’s innovation. In the UK, Deep Science Ventures has introduced a Venture Science Doctorate designed to train scientists to build tangible solutions, not just publish papers. These two models signal that doctoral training is no longer solely about knowledge generation but about outcome driven innovation.
Alternative pathways to scale capability
Where formal curriculum reform is slow, parallel approaches can accelerate progress. Certified, self-directed online courses in entrepreneurship and innovation tailored to African contexts and chemistry/science disciplines could be delivered in partnership with universities and industry to offer transferable university-level course credits.
Targeted programmes such as Leadership in Chemistry through Innovation & Entrepreneurship (led by Rondil Scholars Hub in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry Pan-Africa Chemistry Network) can also build a critical mass of scientists who understand the problem they are solving, communicate effectively with decision makers, design viable business models and advocate for public funding that de-risks and unlocks private investment.
These initiatives can build early momentum, but their impact will remain limited without the coordinated action of universities, governments and scientists themselves.
The role of universities
Across some parts of the continent, science degrees are still undervalued relative to engineering and medicine. This is counterproductive, as chemistry and other sciences are foundational to industrial development.
Universities must:
- Invest in upskilling educators to link chemistry to current work in innovation and policy and deliver this effectively
- Treat innovation and entrepreneurship as integral to scientific training
- Create structured opportunities for scientists to engage policymakers and industry players
The role of policymakers and government
Every African country invests less than 1% of GDP towards research and development. Without serious public investment, calls for innovation remain rhetorical.
Policymakers must:
- Recognise science as a core economic driver
- Increase and sustain public funding for R&D, while driving public-private partnerships
- Actively engage with scientists to align research with national priorities
The role of scientists
Many scientists remain disengaged from policy, business and broader societal contexts. But innovation is increasingly interdisciplinary and entrepreneurship requires fluency beyond the lab.
Scientists must:
- Engage in interdisciplinary programmes that expand their understanding of innovation ecosystems
- Advocate for increased public investment in R&D while aligning their research with the private sector
- Communicate their research intentionally to policymakers, industry and the public
This article is not intended to revisit the well documented structural barriers to entrepreneurship in Africa, such as infrastructure deficits, regulatory complexity and funding gaps. Africa’s innovation gap is not a failure of ideas, but of translation, the missing bridge between scientific talent and entrepreneurial execution. Rebuilding this bridge requires better training, aligned incentives and stronger links to national priorities – but above all, it requires a shift in the attitudes of scientists.
Scientists must step out of silos to become visible, vocal and accountable actors who shape markets, influence policy, secure funding and build solutions grounded in local needs. This is not incremental reform; it is a structural shift in how science is practiced and valued. If a critical mass of scientists emerges, the systems will be forced to respond. Either scientists remain peripheral or they embrace entrepreneurial science as a lifeline that enables them to convert knowledge into economic power.
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