Triple Helix Revisited: Can the Involvement of Diaspora Enhance Technology Innovation Performance in Emerging African Economies?

An increasing number of research works have investigated the importance and impact of the triple helix, a collaborative system of knowledge generation among University-Industry-Government (UIG) in the development of national innovation competence. However, regardless of the level of effort, triple helix still remains to be an abstract concept in the case of Africa in general and Ethiopian innovation system in particular. On the other hand, studies show that a large number of manpower with better technical and managerial capabilities that can provide supportive knowledge and skills for the technological innovation and transfer efforts of emerging economies is residing in the advanced economies. Thus, the aim of this theoretical framework is to shed light on the importance of harnessing the knowledge and skills of the Diaspora community and integrating is to the current triple helix model. On top of that, the paper identifies the primary problems related to the implementation of the model in the case of Ethiopia.