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SYNERGIES AND NETWORKING AMONG INSTITUTIONS: PREDICTING

SYNERGIES AND NETWORKING AMONG INSTITUTIONS: PREDICTING INNOVATIONS OF THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY BY ENGR. (PROF.) A. P. ONWUALU, FAS, F.A. Eng DIRECTOR-GENERAL, RMRDC PAPER PRESENTED AT THE NOTAP – ISESCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON “ TECHNOLOGY FORESIGHT”

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SYNERGIES AND NETWORKING AMONG INSTITUTIONS: PREDICTING

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  1. SYNERGIES AND NETWORKING AMONG INSTITUTIONS: PREDICTING INNOVATIONS OF THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY BY ENGR. (PROF.) A. P. ONWUALU, FAS, F.A. Eng DIRECTOR-GENERAL, RMRDC PAPER PRESENTED AT THE NOTAP – ISESCO REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON “ TECHNOLOGY FORESIGHT” REIZ CONTINENTAL HOTEL, ABUJA, NIGERIA 23 – 25 FEBRUARY, 2011 Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) No. 17, AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama District, Abuja Website: www.rmrdc.gov.ng Email: ceo@rmrdc.gov.ng Phone: 07098805375

  2. OUTLINE • Introduction • Innovation Institutions • Benefits of Networking among Institutions • Global Strategies to foster networking and synergy • Networking and Synergy: RMRDC Experience • Challenges • The Future • Conclusion 2

  3. 1.0 INTRODUCTION • Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020: to be amongst the first twenty largest economies in the world by the year 2020 • Science, Technology and Innovation are the major determinants of the level of advancement of the present first twenty largest economies • Indicators of the advancement are: ICT, manufacturing, volume of exports and improved standard of living • The core drivers of Vision 20:2020 are technology based • Therefore Vision 20:2020 can only be achieved if it is tied to a sound technology Vision 3

  4. Nigeria Innovation System is weak: weak infrasructure and human capacity; weak linkages and interactions between key players; poor or lack of Vision • Technology and innovation are globally being accepted as key source of economic growth and competitiveness • In order to ensure technological and hence economic competitiveness, techonology vision is increasingly being adopted as an essential element of national development strategy • Consequently, developing a technology Vision (foresight) at this point of our national history has become imperative • Synergy among relevant institutions is vital in realising the Vision 4

  5. 2.0 INNOVATION INSTITUTIONS • National System of Innovation play significant roles in determining current and future technology trends and needs • Consist of three core groups operating in a triple helix (knowledge centres, Government and industry) • Knowledge Centres • - Research Institutes • - Universities • - Polytechnics • - Colleges of Agriculture 5

  6. Innovation Institutions cont’d - Colleges of Education - Private Sector Laboratories/Researchers - Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) • Industrial Sector - Large Scale - Medium Scale - Small Scale - Cottage Level - Micro Scale 6

  7. Innovation Institutions cont’d • Organized Private Sector (OPS) • - Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) • - Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) • - Nigerian Association of Small and Medium • Enterprises (NASME) • - Cooperatives • - Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture • Government • - Federal • - state • - Local Government • - Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) 7

  8. TRIPLE HELIX CONCEPT Industrial sector (I) Knowledge centre (K) KS KIG GK GI Government (G) 8

  9. 3.0 BENEFITS OF NETWORKING/SYNERGY AMONG INSTITUTIONS • Encourage Demand-Driven Research and Innovation • Increase Commercialization of R&D Results • Improve the Productivity and Competitiveness of Industries • Mutual Benefits for Research and Industry • Economic and Technological Development of the Country 9

  10. 4.0 GLOBAL STRATEGIES TO FOSTER NETWORKING AND SYNERGY • Technology Business Incubation • Presidential Committee on Inventions and Innovations • Endowment of Chairs in Higher Institutions by Industry • National Science Foundation • Firm-sponsored Laboratory and Scholarships • Honorary Doctorates/Fellowships 10

  11. Global Strategies cont’d • Industry/University Cooperative Research Centres • Industry/University Projects • Science/Research/Technology Parks • World Bank Science and Technology Education Post- Basic (STEP-B) Project • Development Partners 11

  12. 5.0 NETWORKING AND SYNERGY: RMRDC EXPERIENCE • Funding of Demand-Driven Research and Development (R&D), Followed by Industrial Testing • Pilot Plants and Catalytic Model Factory Programme • Biennial Techno-Expo • Boosting Programme (e.g. Fruits, Castor, Jatropha, Cassava, Gum Arabic, Cotton, etc.) • Specialized Conferences/Workshops that bring Researchers and Industrialists together • Facilitating Raw Materials Cluster Development in conjunction with knowledge centres (PACF – cashew, honey, cassava, oil palm, etc) • National Design competition 12

  13. Networking and Synergy cont’d • Mathematical Modelling of Process Equipment • Computer Aided Design of Process Equipment and Plants • National Foundation for Process Equipment Design (NAFPED) • Promoting National System of Innovation, NSI 13

  14. SOME USEFUL RESULTS OF NETWORKING/SYNERGY 14

  15. Kilishi Processing Machine Essential Oil Production Plant Salt Processing Plant Wood Seasoning Kiln ‘A’ (Electric) Wood Seasoning Kiln ‘B’ (Firewood) Briquetting Machines Moringa Water Treatment Plant Flash Dryer Prototype Automated Weaving Loom 15

  16. Akwete Traditional Weaving Glazier Putty Mixer Melon Shelling Equipment Silk Cloth Weaving Unit Lawyer’s Wig Weaving Unit Crank Kick Wheel Exhibits on Display During the 2009 Techno-Expo of RMRDC Pilot Plant for Production of Laboratory Chemicals and Reagents 16

  17. 7.0 CHALLENGES • Poor Policy Framework • Inadequate Funding • Lack of Mutual Trust • “Ivory Tower” Syndrome • Threats from Imports • Lack of Confidence in Local Researchers particularly by some Multinationals 17

  18. 8.0 THE FUTURE • Reinforce National System of Innovation • Establish National Science and Competitiveness Foundation • Collaboration among Heads of Institutions - Vice Chancellors (CVC) - Rectors - Provosts - Chief Executives of Research Institutions (CODRI) - MAN - NACCIMA - NASME - NASSI • Operationalize National Research Coordinating Council 18

  19. 9.0 CONCLUSION • For Science, Technology and Innovation to play a pivotal role in national development, Innovation Institutions must forge partnerships among themselves and with other stakeholders in the economy • Such partnerships should come up with clear visions on where the country should be heading to in terms of technology and innovation • Clear targets should be set and pursued by institutions in synergy with others • These can be achieved by operationalizing the National Research Coordinating Council 19

  20. THANK YOU • RMRDC – Adding Value to Nigeria’s Raw Material Resources • Winner of 2009 National Productivity Merit Award • Website: www.rmrdc.gov.ng • Email: ceo@rmrdc.gov.ng • Phone: 07098805375 20

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