Despite decades of research output from Nigerian universities, many innovations remain trapped in academic journals and library shelves, failing to generate the economic and social impact needed to drive national development.
To address the challenge, Bayero University Kano (BUK) will host the 1st National Conference and Exhibition on Research and Development, bringing together researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and development partners to explore ways to transform research findings into commercially viable products and services.
The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Muhammed Maina, disclosed this during a press briefing ahead of the conference scheduled for 22–25 June at the university’s New Campus in Kano.
The conference, organised by the university’s Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership (DRIP), is themed “Bridging Knowledge and Enterprise: Intellectual Property, Partnership, and Research Commercialisation.”
Prof. Maina said the event was conceived in response to the persistent disconnect between research outputs and their practical application in industry and public policy.
“For decades, Nigerian universities have produced world-class research that too often remains on library shelves, unpatented, uncommercialised and disconnected from the needs of industry and policymakers. This conference marks a deliberate and strategic effort to change that reality,” he said.
According to him, the conference aims to bridge the gap between research and enterprise, address barriers to the commercialisation of research outputs and strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and government.
He explained that discussions would focus on the future of patents and intellectual property in the digital economy, global best practices in knowledge valorisation and technology incubation, as well as opportunities and challenges in technology transfer and research innovation.
The conference will also feature a high-level policy dialogue involving representatives of academia, industry, government and the legislature to examine obstacles within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and identify practical solutions.
Prof. Maina identified inadequate funding, weak university-industry collaboration, bureaucratic bottlenecks, limited testing facilities and regulatory uncertainties as some of the factors hindering research commercialisation in the country.
“Funding remains one of the biggest barriers to research in Nigerian universities. Another major challenge is that industries are not patronising universities as required. Through this conference and the policy dialogue sessions, we hope to identify clear pathways for addressing these barriers,” he said.
The event will feature an exhibition showcasing prototypes, technologies and research outputs from Nigerian universities, research institutes and start-ups, providing opportunities for innovators to engage potential investors, industry partners and policymakers.
Organisers expect the conference to produce a communiqué containing recommendations on intellectual property reforms, innovation procurement, research funding mechanisms and regulatory flexibility.
The conference is also expected to facilitate the signing of memoranda of understanding between Bayero University and industry partners on collaborative research, technology licensing and innovation incubation.
About 300 participants are expected to attend the event, including the Director-General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), who will chair the conference, and representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Prof. Maina said the gathering would help advance research commercialisation in Nigeria and promote innovation as a driver of competitiveness, job creation and sustainable development.
Comments
Add a comment