The paper describes the organization and management of two wireless eco-systems in next generation wireless communications research and human capacity development. The developed eco-systems have been tested and presented at an international workshop organized by the council for science and industrial research and collaborating universities in South Africa. Furthermore, the possibility of extending such a framework to the regional context to improve wireless communications research, standards, human capacity development and technology innovation endeavours of emerging economies is presented. Finally the paper proposes a technology transfer and innovation framework to convert ideas and new technology solutions in the wireless eco-systems into small scale service and knowledge based industries.