The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) is taking steps to bridge the gap between research and industry in Nigeria. The university's president, Peter Onwualu, believes that commercialising research output is key to its contribution to national economic growth. This conviction informed the decision to organise Summit X, a gathering of researchers, entrepreneurs, industries, and other key stakeholders.
The summit, scheduled to hold between April 22 and 24 in Abuja, aims to showcase transformative ideas and technologies in various sectors. These include technology and digital innovation, healthtech, clean energy, agriculture, creative industries, and finance. By bringing together funding institutions and agencies, the summit seeks to facilitate collaboration and commercialisation of research outputs.
Nigeria has a vast number of research institutions, with over 300 universities and more than 200 research institutes. However, the majority of research outputs remain uncommercialised, stuck within these institutions. AUST's decision to establish an innovation hub, AUSTinspire, is a step towards addressing this issue. The hub, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, promotes entrepreneurship and serves as a channel for engaging with the private sector.
The AUST president's emphasis on commercialising research output is a welcome development in Nigeria's quest for economic growth. The university's decision to establish an innovation hub and organise a summit to bridge the gap between research and industry is a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen how effective these efforts will be in translating research outputs into tangible economic benefits for Nigerians. The country's research institutions have a significant role to play in driving innovation and economic growth, but they must be supported by policies that encourage collaboration and commercialisation.
