Birchenough Bridge in Zimbabwe      Photo courtesy

A strong awareness of  science, engineering and technology as pillars of economic development leads to the uptake of science subjects at early stages of learning and thus further buttresses a culture whose fundamentals are premised on a science and technology foundation. The ultimate result of this is a high output of University Science graduates and researchers.

At tertiary and research institutions, the research must be focused on solving society’s challenges. This can only happen when the research is attractive for industry’s uptake, in other words, the research must be commercializable. Research that is attractive to industry is that which can easily be transformed into dollars and cents and this can only be rendered possible when the final product is marketable.

Let me hasten to point out that the current trend the world over is that many tertiary institutions are now involved in commercializing their own Research and Development (R&D) outcomes. For instance, universities in South Korea, Japan and India are now involved in the establishment of University Spin Off Companies responsible for the commercialization of their respective R&D results. They are also involved in setting up similar establishments called Technoparks which absorb most of the research from the institutions ready for commercialization.

I urge local institutions and those in the region to do the same. In order for our countries to reap maximum benefits from such establishments, synergies between these institutions should be established through increased regional cooperation in Science, Engineering and Technology.

We must, as SADC and Africa, accept that ICTs, science and technology are the future. Any future economic development will only be possible with the usage of modern methods of processing, manufacturing and marketing through science and technology.

Commercialisation of local Research and Development (R&D) and innovations leads to value addition to local raw materials and subsequent import substitution.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Zimbabwe spends an average of 10% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually on machinery imports while around 5% of its GDP is spent on chemical imports. Adding on imports of vehicles, telecoms and electricals brings the total percentage of the country’s GDP gobbled by such imports to an average of 20%. This is worrisome. If this could be halted, that money could go a long way towards developing the country. I am aware that this trend is similar in many of the countries in the region and the developing world at large.

Our countries are failing to commercialize local innovations. For example, the MAP45 and the MPCV army troop vehicles were developed in Zimbabwe and yet Zimbabwe is not a net producer of these ammo resistant vehicles. Instead, the technology has already been copied and modified by some developed countries which are now producing the vehicles en-mass for their domestic and export markets. It is not surprising to see us importing our own technology!

How can such a sad scenario be reversed? I believe both the government and the private sectors have roles to play. Government policy is responsible for the establishment of an environment conducive to the commercialization of R&D outcomes. This can be done through the establishment of physical infrastructure required for the initial stages of the commercialization process such as universities, research institutes and laboratories where the R&D occurs.

It is through policy that different R&D institutions are assigned different roles which result in R&D product differentiation. The classification of particular genres of R&D institutions according to their areas of specialization enables them to identify similar clusters of firms interested in taking up their outcomes and thus assist towards streamlining the commercialization process.

The establishment of Acts such as Zimbabwe’s Research Act and vehicles such as the Innovation and Commercialisation Fund are useful efforts by the government directed towards R&D commercialization.

On the other hand, industry has a role in the commercialization process. Successful commercialization of R&D outcomes lies in firms’ adherence to business practices such as conducting goal oriented market research, determining target market, formulating business plans, tracing potential customers, encouraging the involvement of strategic partners and financing the needed investment.

These ingredients and the existence of sound linkages between industry and research institutions will lead to the successful commercialization of local R&D and innovations.

Industry should drop the notion that tertiary institutions are only a source of educated manpower but should start viewing them as potential sources of marketable products. Let us adopt today’s methods of doing business and this can only be possible through science, engineering and technology. Let us never fool the people that without knowledge-based intensive industries; without rapid mechanisation and automation; without intensive technological inventions and innovation; there can be any meaningful empowerment of our communities.

This is the brave 21st century and we must board the train.

By Morgan Tsvangirai

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.