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MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private sector/industry linkages

MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private sector/industry linkages. A presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual meeting, Chicago, 12th-16th February 2009 By Dr. Maxwell Otim Onapa

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MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private sector/industry linkages

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  1. MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private sector/industry linkages A presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual meeting, Chicago, 12th-16th February 2009 By Dr. Maxwell Otim Onapa Uganda National Council for Science and Technology

  2. New partnerships for Science in the cradle of humanity 7 Million Years of Hominid Evolution 160,000 Years of Human Migrations The National Geographic Society/ IBM Genographic Project 2005 – 2010 Preliminary Results from Recent Global DNA Analysis Bob Citron, June 2008

  3. Background • Uganda achieved recognizable economic growth in the early 1990s • A fall registered in mid 2000 • Population growth rate 3.4% per year To attain a middle-income status economic growth must average 7% …….BUT…….

  4. Challenges • Low tech inefficient production • Agric accounts for 34.3% GDP and employs more than 2/3 of the population • Poor environment for the establishment of competitive industries Increased productivity and private-sector led growth requires more and better use of knowledge in an improved investment climate ……..Consequently…………

  5. Sector issues • Government giving specific attention to raising productivity and output in the industrial and service sectors of the economy However, poor skills of available workers – major constraint Policy concern: Raising education levels in firms and increasing exposure to modern tech and management practices

  6. Key Sector issues • Institutional capacity and cooperation has been weak • Low technology acquisition and little “technology learning” within firms • Relevance of Tertiary education- stagnant S&T enrollment • Quality of tertiary education and advanced training • Connection to Global Knowledge and Local labour markets

  7. Government interventions Government strategy for STI • Increased investment in industrialization, R&D and relevant technology areas • Improving science education at secondary level • Promoting greater academic enrolment in S&T and economic priority areas • Policy initiatives to support tech transfer and commercialization of innovation, Industrial and innovation fund • Streamlining agricultural research

  8. Support – Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) World Bank involvement A major development partner • Intervention addresses human development, productivity and growth issues • Bank’s intensive involvement in private sector development

  9. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Funding facility: provides a competitively-awarded grants through 3 different windows Window A: A1: funds research groups led by a senior investigator A2: funds research groups led by emerging investigator

  10. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Window B: B1: funds the creation of undergraduate programs in basic sciences and engineering B2: funds for upgrading existing degree programs in basic sciences and engineering

  11. Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Window C: Main objective: To give firms greater access to new or existing technologies and involve academia/research institutions in addressing industry problems Expected to promote growth of firms and accelerate transition to a more S&T driven economy Funds to support private sector cooperation • “Technology platform”for firms and researchers Mode 1 Mode 2 • Formal firm-based internships for students in science, engineering and business administration

  12. Window C: Implementation Uganda National council for Science and Technology (UNCST) Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) Initial strategy: Raising awareness Linking the academia and industry Using platforms

  13. Research-academia-industry linkages • Proposals jointly developed by researcher and industry • Reviewed by the sub-committee of the MSI Technical committee

  14. Research-academia-industry linkages Technology platform Forum that seeks to: • Define a set of technological problems facing firms to which research or consultation could provide solution • Identify and evaluate technologies that exist outside Uganda and could be profitably transferred for domestic use • Carry out collaborative R&D on issues identified

  15. Research-academia-industry linkages Mode 1 Funds cooperative evaluation of technologies and the definition of shared R&D problems confronting partners in the platform Mode 2 Funds mode 1 grantees to carry out the R&D agenda developed in mode 1 as a collaboration –firms and university/research institution partners

  16. So far….. • 1.Makerere University: participatory research for rural dairy development using the pubic private partnership approach Partners: • Makerere University - University • Sugar industry – private firm • Dairy development authority – government agency • Dairy farmers – private farmers Tool for enhancing synergies for development research and rural development Sugar molasses

  17. So far 2. Evaluation of industrial and edible salt processing technology at Lake Katwe Partners: • JDG Africa limited – private sector firm • Mabarara University – University 3. Three Additional projects

  18. Challenges A. GENERAL Weak Private sector base • Inadequate capacity (technical, financial and research facilities) • MNCs conduct research at their parent companies • Local firms with research agenda- mainly agriculture based • Sugar cooperation • Tea estates • Edible oil B. RESEARCHER/ACADEMIA Paradigm challenge Sugarcane plantation

  19. Challenges C. PRIVATE SECTOR • Desire for immediate returns on research investments • Research-academia cooperation • Low level of appreciation of the role of research • Skepticism about the role of researchers • Lack of investment in research • low appreciation of exogenous intellectual input • importance of investments in research • Old legacy - Higher expectations - public research funds

  20. Way forward • Continuous engagements with academia and industry • De-layering and retooling • Active involvement of the private sector • Leveraging more resources

  21. Can we achieve viable partnerships between universities/academia and the private sector?

  22. Yes we can!

  23. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS SCIENCE INITIATIVE GROUP(SIG) Arlen Hastings

  24. Thank you for your kind attention

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