Education

Minister Asiimwe Tours Makerere Faculties, Research Facilities to Strengthen Uganda’s Science and Innovation Agenda

Ssemaganda Moses Hope
By Ssemaganda Moses Hope


Minister Asiimwe Tours Makerere Faculties, Research Facilities to Strengthen Uganda’s Science and Innovation Agenda
Minister Asiimwe Tours Makerere Faculties, Research Facilities to Strengthen Uganda’s Science and Innovation Agenda

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The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, is undertaking a comprehensive two-day tour of faculties and research facilities at Makerere University, engaging faculty leaders, researchers, innovators and students on strengthening Uganda’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem.

 

 

During the tour, Minister Asiimwe is visiting different faculties and research facilities to understand ongoing research, assess innovation capacity, explore commercialization opportunities and discuss institutional priorities that can contribute to Uganda’s science-led development.

 

 

The engagements are also focusing on strengthening the journey from research to patents, commercially viable products, thriving enterprises and innovations that improve lives.

At the different faculties, the Minister has held discussions with academic leaders, researchers, innovators and students on how research generated within universities can be better supported, protected and transformed into practical solutions and enterprises.

Minister Asiimwe said the engagements are aimed at strengthening collaboration between Government, academia and industry so that universities can increasingly become engines of innovation, enterprise creation and industrial transformation.

 

 

“I am visiting faculties and research facilities across Makerere University, where I am engaging faculty leaders, researchers, innovators and students on strengthening Uganda’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem,” Minister Asiimwe said.

He added that the country must strengthen the link between research and practical application by creating pathways that enable innovations to move from academic and research spaces into patents, commercially viable products and enterprises.

 

 

“These engagements are focused on understanding ongoing research, identifying opportunities for commercialization, and strengthening the journey from research to patents, commercially viable products, thriving enterprises and innovations that improve lives,” he said.

The Minister’s engagement has also created an opportunity for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Makerere University to discuss areas of collaboration in supporting research, innovation, technology transfer and commercialization.

 

 

Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the engagement, noting that stronger collaboration between Government, academia and industry is critical in ensuring that research and innovations generated at the university contribute to national development.

Prof. Nawangwe emphasized Makerere University’s long-standing contribution to research and innovation, saying the university remains committed to strengthening the link between knowledge generation, innovation and solutions that respond to the needs of society.

 

 

Researchers and innovators at the university also used the engagement to showcase ongoing work and discuss some of the opportunities and challenges affecting research, innovation and commercialization.

Students who interacted with the Minister said the engagement had provided them with an opportunity to directly share their experiences and ideas on research and innovation.

One of the students said Government engagement with universities is important in helping students understand how their research and ideas can be developed into practical solutions.

 

 

“Many students have ideas and research projects, but we need mentorship, funding, access to facilities and opportunities to develop these ideas into practical innovations,” the student said.

Another student involved in research and innovation said stronger collaboration between universities, Government and industry could help young innovators move beyond developing ideas to creating sustainable enterprises.

“The Minister’s visit has shown us that research and innovation are not only about academic work. There is also a pathway towards patents, commercialization and creating businesses that can solve problems in our communities,” the student said.

The engagement comes as Uganda continues to strengthen its transition towards a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.

Minister Asiimwe reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening collaboration between Government, academia and industry so that universities can play a greater role in innovation, enterprise creation and industrial transformation.

“I remain committed to strengthening collaboration between Government, academia and industry so that our universities become engines of innovation, enterprise creation and industrial transformation on Uganda’s journey towards a science-led, technology-driven and innovation-powered economy,” he said.

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