Government To Support Innovators

By David Lukiiza

A new dawn is arising for innovators in the country, according to the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Monica Musenero.

Speaking to a team of innovators on Friday at Ndejje University, Musenero said the Government values the role of science, innovation and technology in the development of the nation.

Consequently, the ministry has created two entities to support innovators, breaking the barrier that innovators faced in the past — failure to transform innovations and prototypes into products and services that can be commercialised.

Innovators include artists, engineers, artisans, technicians and technologists who have prototyped products that end up going to waste in their homes, offices and workshops. “One entity is an Innovators’ One-Stop Centre where all innovators can seek support. This addresses innovators’ complaint of lack of space to showcase their prototypes and innovations,” Musenero said.

She explained that at the centre, innovators will be guided on how to transform their prototypes into commercially viable products and services.

Exchange Centre

The second entity is an Innovations Exchange Centre where innovators can interact with potential partners who may be interested in their projects. This follows a common challenge of innovators, especially in the private sector, not knowing where to market or sell their projects for further support.

“We have had instances where an innovator wants to sell their prototypes, but do not know who and where to sell it to. Therefore, this hub will ensure completion of such projects,” Musenero said.

“We are looking at a sector that is moving the country forward, where innovators are not in fear with the products and this shall cover all sectors of the economy,” she said, adding that the few innovators in the country have to compete with each other.

Musenero said the science sector does not seem to have been vibrant following the departure of colonialists.

She added that as a ministry, their focus will be on building the economy by restructuring several value chains and this should be done with the innovators “as we plan for funds to run it”.

Musenero said the ministry has also introduced six think tanks for scientists to prioritise and think for the nation and these are conducted via Zoom meetings daily.

These think tanks include digital, beauty, apparel, engineering, agro-security and mobility.

Dr Eliab Lugujjo, the Ndejje University vice-chancellor, noted that the minister’s visit comes at a time when the institution is at a stage of certifying teaching, research and innovation.

“As a university, we are focusing on engineering and social sciences with the aim of having immediate impact on society,” he said.

Lugujjo, however, noted that with all this in place, private institutions need partnerships with Government so as to make research and innovations much easier and helpful to students and the entire country.

Challenges

Desire Arinda, a second-year student of civil engineering, says with her innovation of conversion technology of a fuel consuming motorbike to an electronic motorbike, one of her biggest challenge was that the project became more expensive along the way, which almost made her give up.

Arinda says her innovation is economic and eco-friendly as the motor bike emits no gasses since it runs on two motors and one does not need fuel, hence protecting the environment.

“I hope the Government implements plans towards supporting innovators because science has proved that in this era, social problems can be solved scientifically,” she says.

(This article was first published in the New Vision on 15th September, 2021)