Creation, deployment, diffusion and export of Sub-Saharan Africa-originated information technology-related innovations

A number of high profile innovations have been created in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we examine the mechanisms associated with the development, deployment, diffusion, and export of SSA-originated innovations. The paper gives special consideration to the relative roles and contributions of local and outside resources in the creation and deployment of innovations in SSA economies. A key focus of the article is on the roles of local infrastructural facilities, systems and services in affecting the diffusion of SSA-originated innovations. Also discussed are the features of SSA-originated innovations that explain the diffusion rates. It provides a detailed analysis and description of the key characteristics of SSA-originated innovations that can increase the possibility of being internationalized or exported to other countries. Finally, we analyze how such mechanisms vary across large and small scale innovations. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.