MSI: A strategic opportunity for MSI: A strategic opportunity for research (academia) - private research (academia) - private

sector/industry linkagessector/industry linkages

A presentation at the American Association for A presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual meeting, Chicago, 12th-16th February 2009meeting, Chicago, 12th-16th February 2009

ByBy

Dr. Maxwell Otim OnapaDr. Maxwell Otim Onapa

Uganda National Council for Science and Uganda National Council for Science and TechnologyTechnology

New partnerships for Science in the New partnerships for Science in the cradle of humanitycradle of humanity

7 Million Years of Hominid 7 Million Years of Hominid

EvolutionEvolution

7 Million Years of Hominid 7 Million Years of Hominid

EvolutionEvolution

The National Geographic Society/ IBM Genographic Project 2005 – 2010 Preliminary Results from Recent Global DNA Analysis

Bob Citron, June 2008

160,000 Years of Human Migrations160,000 Years of Human Migrations160,000 Years of Human Migrations160,000 Years of Human Migrations

BackgroundBackground

Uganda achieved Uganda achieved recognizable economic recognizable economic growth in the early 1990sgrowth in the early 1990s

A fall registered in mid A fall registered in mid 20002000

Population growth rate Population growth rate 3.4% per year3.4% per yearTo attain a middle-income To attain a middle-income status economic growth status economic growth must average 7%must average 7%

………….BUT……..BUT…….

ChallengesChallenges Low tech inefficient Low tech inefficient production production Agric accounts for 34.3% GDP Agric accounts for 34.3% GDP and and

employs more than 2/3 of the populationemploys more than 2/3 of the population Poor environment for the establishment of Poor environment for the establishment of

competitive industriescompetitive industries

Increased productivity and private-sector led Increased productivity and private-sector led growth requires more and better growth requires more and better use of use of knowledgeknowledge in an improved investment in an improved investment climateclimate

…………..Consequently…………..Consequently…………

Sector issuesSector issues Government giving specific attention Government giving specific attention

to raising productivity and output in to raising productivity and output in the industrial and service sectors of the industrial and service sectors of the economy the economy However, poor skills of available However, poor skills of available workers – major constraintworkers – major constraint

Policy concern:Policy concern: Raising education Raising education levels in firms and increasing levels in firms and increasing exposure to modern tech and exposure to modern tech and management practicesmanagement practices

Key Sector issuesKey Sector issues

Institutional capacity and cooperation has Institutional capacity and cooperation has been weakbeen weak

Low technology acquisition and little Low technology acquisition and little “technology learning” within firms“technology learning” within firms

Relevance of Tertiary education- Relevance of Tertiary education- stagnant stagnant S&T enrollmentS&T enrollment

Quality of tertiary education and advanced Quality of tertiary education and advanced trainingtraining

Connection to Global Knowledge and Local Connection to Global Knowledge and Local labour marketslabour markets

Government interventionsGovernment interventions

Government strategy for STI Government strategy for STI Increased investment in industrialization, R&D Increased investment in industrialization, R&D

and relevant technology areasand relevant technology areas Improving science education at secondary levelImproving science education at secondary level Promoting greater academic enrolment in S&T Promoting greater academic enrolment in S&T

and economic priority areasand economic priority areas Policy initiatives to support tech transfer and Policy initiatives to support tech transfer and

commercialization of innovation, Industrial and commercialization of innovation, Industrial and innovation fundinnovation fund

Streamlining agricultural researchStreamlining agricultural research

Support – Millennium Science Support – Millennium Science Initiative (MSI)Initiative (MSI)

World Bank involvementWorld Bank involvementA major development partnerA major development partner

Intervention addresses human development, Intervention addresses human development, productivity and growth issuesproductivity and growth issues

Bank’s intensive involvement in private Bank’s intensive involvement in private sector developmentsector development

Millennium Science Initiative Millennium Science Initiative (MSI)(MSI)

Funding facility:Funding facility:

provides a competitively-awarded provides a competitively-awarded grants through 3 different windowsgrants through 3 different windows

Window A:Window A:

A1:A1: funds research groups led by a funds research groups led by a senior investigatorsenior investigator

A2:A2: funds research groups led by funds research groups led by emerging investigatoremerging investigator

Millennium Science Initiative Millennium Science Initiative (MSI)(MSI)

Window B:Window B:B1:B1: funds the creation of funds the creation of

undergraduate programs undergraduate programs in basic in basic sciences and engineeringsciences and engineering

B2:B2: funds for upgrading existing funds for upgrading existing degree degree programs in basic programs in basic sciences and sciences and engineering engineering

Millennium Science Initiative Millennium Science Initiative (MSI)(MSI)

Window C:Window C:Main objective:Main objective:

To give firms greater access to new or To give firms greater access to new or existing technologies and involve existing technologies and involve academia/research institutions in academia/research institutions in addressing industry problemsaddressing industry problemsExpected to promote growth of firms and Expected to promote growth of firms and accelerate transition to a more S&T driven accelerate transition to a more S&T driven economyeconomy

Funds to support private sector cooperationFunds to support private sector cooperation(i)(i) ““Technology platform”Technology platform” for firms and researchersfor firms and researchers

Mode 1Mode 1Mode 2Mode 2

(ii)(ii) Formal firm-based internshipsFormal firm-based internships for students in for students in science, engineering and business science, engineering and business administrationadministration

Window C: ImplementationWindow C: ImplementationUganda National council for Uganda National council for Science and Technology Science and Technology (UNCST)(UNCST)Uganda Industrial Research Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)Institute (UIRI)

Initial strategy:Initial strategy:

Raising awareness Raising awareness

Linking the academia Linking the academia and industry and industry Using platformsUsing platforms

Research-academia-Research-academia-industry linkagesindustry linkages

Proposals jointly developed by Proposals jointly developed by researcher and industryresearcher and industry

Reviewed by the sub-committee of Reviewed by the sub-committee of the MSI Technical committeethe MSI Technical committee

Research-academia-Research-academia-industry linkagesindustry linkages

Technology platformTechnology platformForum that seeks to: Forum that seeks to: Define a set of technological problems Define a set of technological problems

facing firms to which research or facing firms to which research or consultation could provide solutionconsultation could provide solution

Identify and evaluate technologies that Identify and evaluate technologies that exist outside Uganda and could be exist outside Uganda and could be profitably transferred for domestic useprofitably transferred for domestic use

Carry out collaborative R&D on issues Carry out collaborative R&D on issues identifiedidentified

Research-academia-industry Research-academia-industry linkageslinkages

Mode 1Mode 1

Funds cooperative evaluation of technologies Funds cooperative evaluation of technologies and the definition of shared R&D problems and the definition of shared R&D problems confronting partners in the platformconfronting partners in the platform

Mode 2Mode 2

Funds mode 1 grantees to carry out the R&D Funds mode 1 grantees to carry out the R&D agenda developed in mode 1 as a collaboration agenda developed in mode 1 as a collaboration –firms and university/research institution –firms and university/research institution partnerspartners

So far…..So far….. 1.Makerere University: 1.Makerere University:

participatory research participatory research for rural dairy for rural dairy development using the development using the pubic private pubic private partnership approachpartnership approach

Partners:Partners: Makerere University - Makerere University -

UniversityUniversity Sugar industry – Sugar industry – private firmprivate firm Dairy development authority Dairy development authority

– – government agencygovernment agency Dairy farmers – Dairy farmers – private private

farmersfarmersTool for enhancing synergies Tool for enhancing synergies

for development research for development research and rural developmentand rural development

Sugar molasses

So farSo far

2.2. Evaluation of industrial Evaluation of industrial and edible salt processing and edible salt processing technology at Lake Katwetechnology at Lake Katwe

Partners:Partners:• JDG Africa limited – JDG Africa limited – private sector firmprivate sector firm• Mabarara University – Mabarara University – UniversityUniversity

3.3. Three Additional projects Three Additional projects

ChallengesChallenges

A.A. GENERALGENERALWeak Private sector baseWeak Private sector base

Inadequate capacity Inadequate capacity (technical, financial and (technical, financial and research facilities)research facilities)

MNCs conduct research at MNCs conduct research at their parent companiestheir parent companies

Local firms with research Local firms with research agenda- mainly agriculture agenda- mainly agriculture basedbased

Sugar cooperationSugar cooperation Tea estatesTea estates Edible oilEdible oil

B.B. RESEARCHER/ACADEMIARESEARCHER/ACADEMIAParadigm challengeParadigm challenge

Sugarcane plantation

ChallengesChallenges

C.C. PRIVATE SECTORPRIVATE SECTORi.i. Desire for immediate returns on research Desire for immediate returns on research

investmentsinvestmentsii.ii. Research-academia cooperationResearch-academia cooperationiii.iii. Low level of appreciation of the role of research Low level of appreciation of the role of research

Skepticism about the role of researchers Skepticism about the role of researchers Lack of investment in researchLack of investment in research low appreciation of exogenous intellectual input low appreciation of exogenous intellectual input

iii.iii. importance of investments in researchimportance of investments in researchiv.iv. Old legacy - Higher expectations - public Old legacy - Higher expectations - public

research fundsresearch funds

Way forwardWay forward

Continuous engagements with Continuous engagements with academia and industryacademia and industry De-layering and retoolingDe-layering and retooling

Active involvement of the private Active involvement of the private sectorsector

Leveraging more resourcesLeveraging more resources

Can we achieve viable partnerships between universities/academia and the private sector?

Yes we can!

AKNOWLEDGEMENTSAKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SCIENCE INITIATIVE GROUP(SIG)SCIENCE INITIATIVE GROUP(SIG)Arlen HastingsArlen Hastings

Thank you for your kind Thank you for your kind attentionattention