1. Dr. Moses Makayoto, OGW, PhD.
ENHANCING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH AND ITS RELEVANCE TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION AND INNOVATION: THE CASE OF A MODERN UNIVERSITY
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 1

2. Role of needs-driven research. Centers of Innovation Excellence .
ENHANCING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH AND ITS RELEVANCE TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION AND INNOVATION: THE CASE OF A MODERN UNIVERSITY
Contents
Introduction.
Role of needs-driven research.
Centers of Innovation Excellence .
Commercialization of Innovations – building partnerships.
Case Studies.
Current situation in Kenya.
Way forward.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Knowledge Base Cont…. 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).

6. 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.

7. Fig: Investment in knowledge as a percentage of GDP, 2002 in OECD countries7

8. ROLE OF NEEDS-DRIVEN RESEARCH
Basic research.
Problem/solution based research.
Market-driven research.
Applied research.
Contractual research.
Sources of Research Inspiration (Pasteur’s Quadrant).

9. Figure: Sources of research inspiration

10. 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.

11. THE PRESURE ON UNIVERSITIES
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?

12. 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.

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

14. Information Exchange in Research
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 14

15. Modes of Turning Research Findings into Tangibles Industrial Parks.
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. 15

16. Approach to Scientific Education Renewal. Broadening.
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. 16

17. 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). 17

18. 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. 18

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. CENTERS OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE Cont..
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.

22. EXCELLENCE CENTRES IN SWEDEN

23. 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).

24. Fig: The Triple Helix innovation system

25. Fig: Actors in cluster initiatives

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Total Number of Applicants
N/B - The bulk of patent applications at KIPI are from the informal sector and industry, with research institutions and universities performing extremely poorly.
Applicants
Total Number of Applicants
SME’s (Jua-Kali)
116
Industry 45
R & D Institutions 14
Individuals from Universities 2
Secondary Schools 1

30. 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.

31. ONE STOP SHOP for TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - R & D publications manual
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.
KIRDI
MSEs

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

33. CMFs for leather SMEs

34. Mechanical and Chemical Engineering CMFs

35. Value added food technology

36. Develop national innovation system
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.

37. 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.

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

39. Thank you Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute,
South “C” Campus, Popo Road,
P. O BOX – 00100
Nairobi, Kenya