Raízes históricas da construção do sistema de inovação de Moçambique

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the economic development of Mozambique from an evolutionary perspective, covering the period from the colonial era (1938–1974) to the present day. It examines the historical and structural evolution of the Mozambican economy, articulated through three decisive moments: the colonial period, the civil war, and post-conflict economic reconstruction. The historical-structural analysis shows that Mozambique’s economic formation was shaped by a dependent integration into the global system, characterized by the exploitation of primary resources and the absence of an autonomous industrial base. During Portuguese colonial rule, policies such as the development plans (planos de fomento) reinforced the logic of an economy oriented toward the export of raw materials — cotton, sugar, and sisal — for the benefit of the metropolis. The independence of 1975 opened a new phase, soon interrupted by the civil war (1976–1992), which destroyed infrastructure, disarticulated the productive fabric, and deepened regional and ethnic inequalities. The conflict, strongly conditioned by external interference within the context of the Cold War, exposed the fragility of the post-colonial state and the persistence of dependent structures. In the subsequent period, the Mozambican economy remained heavily dependent on commodity exports and foreign direct investment (FDI), with limited industrial diversification, while historical inequalities and institutional fragility sustained a peripheral growth model. The analysis of economic complexity and the Human Development Index (HDI) reveals gradual progress in education and health, but little productive diversification and limited technological innovation. The study concludes that the country’s central challenge lies in transforming quantitative growth into qualitative development, through policies that strengthen human capital, promote inclusive industrialization, and enhance technological sophistication. The thesis argues that Mozambique’s economic development depends on structural transformation, economic diversification, investment in human capital, institutional strengthening, and inclusive innovation policies. Finally, it proposes a typology that situates African countries within the framework of National Innovation Systems (NIS), locating Mozambique in the interaction regime 1b.