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A researcher, Dr Eric Mwangi, has advised researchers to take advantage of the international funding to overcome the critical challenges of funding facing research projects.
Mwangi, who is a lead researcher in Kenyan Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, gave the advice in a paper entitled: “Strengthening Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) between Europe and Africa’’.
He presented the paper at the ongoing First International Workshop on Science Parks and Innovation Eco-system for National Development (SPIE4ND) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), on Saturday.
Mwangi regretted that many African researchers were yet to be part of the collaborative and joint international research work that got funding through donor agencies and developed countries.
“Though, we may not have enough money to run serious and far-reaching researches in Africa, we can tap from some existing and functional international funding from donor agencies, foundations and governments of developed world.
“Nigeria and Nigerian researchers must come up and take advantage of these and improve the environment and add value to lives of people in the country,’’ Mwangi said.
Also, Dr Dan-Azumi Ibrahim, the Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), said that Intellectual Property (IP) made innovation to work.
Ibrahim said in his paper, “Intellectual Property, Promotion and Protection; Pros and Cons’’ that intellectual property guarantee reward for the researcher after years of sacrifice to get results.
According to him, universities need to partner NOTAP to ensure that their research findings and innovations can transform to business and profit.
“With intellectual property, a university can create wealth and be highly financially independent since innovation from its researches can turn to real-time business and profit.
“NOTAP is always on hand to assist institutions to protect their intellectual works as well as promote them to create wealth and jobs within the country.
“The agency is already developing a website where abstracts of research findings, developed models and innovation can be uploaded.
“They will eventually be showcased for industries, donor agencies and international agencies and government to see,’’ Ibrahim, represented by Dr Isaac Nwaedozie, said.
The workshop, which started on Feb. 21, is organised by UNN, Ideon Science Park, Sweden and LundaVision AB from Sweden.
No fewer than 100 lecturers from Nigerian and African Universities, including investors are attending the workshop.