Dr. Moses Makayoto, OGW, PhD.Deputy Director (Technology Transfer and Extension Services/Chief Scientist)

The Strathmore University Research Week, ‘Enhancing and Promoting Research in the University”

Friday, 31st July 2009

ENHANCING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH AND ITSRELEVANCE TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE

ACQUISITION AND INNOVATION: THE CASE OF A MODERN UNIVERSITY

ENHANCING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH AND ITS RELEVANCE TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION AND INNOVATION: THE CASE OF A MODERN UNIVERSITY

Contents1. Introduction.2. Role of needs-driven research.3. Centers of Innovation Excellence .4. Commercialization of Innovations – building partnerships.5. Case Studies.6. Current situation in Kenya.7. Way forward.

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INTRODUCTION

New needs in society: rising demands for food, water, energy, health welfare and environmental concerns increase pressure on the universities to be ‘relevant’.

Increasing numbers of technological opportunities providing external stimulus to universities to modernize and contribute to the knowledge economy.

A knowledge economy uses knowledge as the key engine of economic growth.

Kenya intends to become a knowledge-led economy. Vision 2030 seeks to establish an effective national innovation

system.

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KNOWLEDGE BASE

Knowledge: Contained in Products, Processes and Practices i.e. 3Ps. the tacit and codified knowledge formal scientific system and traditional knowledge system.

Technological capability: Effective and efficient usage of knowledge embodied in the

3Ps.

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Formal scientific system: In explicit format – grammatical statements,

mathematical expressions, specifications, manuals etc. Traditional Knowledge (TK) system.

Experiences of indigenous or local people. Intangible factors, beliefs, perspectives, and value

systems. Herbal Medicine care etc. Food Preservative technologies (e.g. Smoking Fish).

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Knowledge Base Cont….

A “Knowledge economy”: sustained use and creation of knowledge for economy’s economic growth. The faster knowledge can be turned into products,

services or processes, the greater the contribution will be to economic growth.

Countries with high investments in R&D have high R&D outputs in terms of publications and patents e.g. Sweden.

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Knowledge Base Cont….

Fig: Investment in knowledge as a percentage of GDP, 2002 in OECD countries

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ROLE OF NEEDS-DRIVEN RESEARCH

Research. Basic research. Problem/solution based research. Market-driven research. Applied research. Contractual research. Sources of Research Inspiration (Pasteur’s Quadrant).

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Figure: Sources of research inspiration

Universities have favoured ‘basic’ or curiosity-driven research for increase scientific knowledge in and understanding.

Industry is inspired to carry out research mainly for economic and social use.

When universities and research institutions collaborate with industry to carry out market-driven research, the result is needs-driven research.

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SOURCES OF RESEARCH INSPIRATION

The social and political pressure on universities to ensure that their new knowledge brings new benefits to society, especially in the area of applied research, is growing.

Big question: Who asked you to do it? Who needs it? Who wants it? Is it demand-driven? Is it market-driven? Is it need-driven? Is anyone prepared to pay for it?

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THE PRESURE ON UNIVERSITIES

THE PRESURE ON UNIVERSITIES Cont….

A mixture of basic and applied knowledge is necessary to solve the complex challenges that will help attain the millennium development goals.

Basic research addresses long term challenges while applied research is for short term projects - see Malaysian strategy.

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The balance approach of market and technology driven innovation adopted by Malaysia.

INGREDIENTS FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION INTO PRODUCTS/PROCESS/SERVICES

Knowledge Transfer Access (acquisition Comprehend Adapt Use Information Exchange in Research

This Is Critical Policy Makers Scientists Industrialists Public

If one of the lines is broken, forget about Research Application

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INGREDIENTS FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION INTO PRODUCTS/PROCESS/SERVICES Cont….

Modes of Turning Research Findings into Tangibles• Industrial Parks. ICT Parks. Science Parks. Technology Parks. For Incubation Facilities. For Common Manufacturing Facilities.

Full Integration of Research.

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INGREDIENTS FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION INTO PRODUCTS/PROCESS/SERVICES Cont….

Approach to Scientific Education Renewal. Broadening. Incorporation at all Levels. Involvement of Male and Female. Interdisciplinary Education. Interdisciplinary Research.

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RELEVANT OF RESEARCH AT THE END OF THE DAY

Socio-economic Development. Basic Human Needs. Laying Food on the Table. Material Well-being of the Populace. Quality of Life of the Populace (Kenyans).

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INDICATORS FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Industries: Number Created (Spin-offs). Number of People/Students Trained (Capacity

Building). Number of Technologies. Number of Products. Number of Services. Number of Publications. Number of Patents.

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CENTERS OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

Centres of Innovation Excellence or Competence aim at excellence in selected fields of high innovation potential.

Represent areas of special distinctiveness.

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CENTERS OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE Cont..

Fund by three partners: industry, university and a state agency.

Interdisciplinary and generally problem-focused. Produce PhDs more used to industry. Work with a cluster of industrial partners.

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Investing in Centers of Excellence for competitive knowledge-based economies.

Sweden is the world’s most knowledge-based economy, a world leader in scientific output.

In Sweden, VINNOVA (Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems), funds 19 Excellence Centres - 7 million euro in each centre.

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CENTERS OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE Cont..

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EXCELLENCE CENTRES IN SWEDEN

COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS – BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS

Majority of innovations developed as a result of high level interaction – triple helix (see fig.)

The various players must: be aware of each other’s existence, have confidence in each other’s ability, want to collaborate, have a common vision.

Need for Innovation Fund (See Fig).

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24Fig: The Triple Helix innovation system

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Fig: Actors in cluster initiatives

CASE STUDIES

Kista Science City - Sweden’s biggest success story:• One of the top 5 ICT-clusters in the world (Largest

ICT-cluster in Europe).• Has 2 universities and 4 research institutes,

providing 1,000 researchers.• 4,500 ICT students at the universities.• 15-20 new technology companies startups each

year.• 30,000 people working in 1,400 companies.

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Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) in Belgium – where Research & Development (LRD) is a separate entity within the KUL for transfer of knowledge and technology between the university and the industry. a quarter of the university’s R&D budget is

from contract research activities. LRD intellectual property liaison office. Establishment of new research-oriented and

innovative spin-off companies.

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CURRENT SITUATION IN KENYA

Efforts to building a knowledge-based economy: Vision 2030 seeks to harness science, technology and

innovation in every aspect of social and economic life. Strategies: PSDS, MAPSKID, the National Industrial

Policy, Draft National Policy on Business Incubation and Technology Parks in Kenya, etc.

Draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy. Science and Technology, the Universities and the

Industrial Property Act. MSEs more innovative than universities.

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N/B - The bulk of patent applications at KIPI are from the informal sector and industry, with research institutions and universities performing extremely poorly.

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ApplicantsTotal Number of

Applicants

SME’s (Jua-Kali) 116

Industry 45

R & D Institutions 14

Individuals from Universities 2

Secondary Schools 1

KIRDI – Supporting Kenya’s industrialization KIRDI’s Vision is to be a center of excellence in

industrial Research & Development. needs driven industrial R&D technology business incubation (food technology, chemical

engineering, leather goods processing, software development, ceramics)

common manufacturing facilities (CMFs), and the 4K MSE 2030 Initiative.

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ONE STOP SHOP

for

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

- R & D publications manual.

- Technology consultancies.

- Prototype development.

- Commercialization of innovations and

inventions.

- Patent and technology information.

- Reverse engineering.

- Technology business incubation.

- Common manufacturing facilities.

MSEsKIRDI

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The Awemak-160, a 4K MSE 2030 Initiative arc welding machine, being tested at KIRDI

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CMFs for leather SMEs

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Mechanical and Chemical Engineering CMFs

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Value added food technology

WAY FORWARD

Develop national innovation system Develop networks and linkages. Innovation fund to support partnerships. Providing state-of-the-art research infrastructure. Emphasis on needs–driven (problem-oriented)

research. Promoting SMEs in more high-value-added

agricultural and industrial activities.

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Develop Centres of Excellence to carry out needs-driven research Emphasis of needs-driven R&D – for example in

biotechnology, renewable energy and recycling (n/b food, energy and water crisis).

Targeting competitive sectors of the economy. SMEs to hire skilled science and technology graduates to set

up R&D departments at their firms to work with Centres Exploitation of traditional knowledge base. Triple helix to encourage innovation- partnerships.

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Dr. Moses Makayoto enjoys Kenyan Cultural dance during new Dr. Moses Makayoto enjoys Kenyan Cultural dance during new product launch in Nairobi, Kenya. product launch in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute,South “C” Campus, Popo Road,P. O BOX 30065 – 00100 Nairobi, KenyaEmail: moses_makayoto@kirdi.go.kemakayotomoses@yahoo.com

Thank you

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