The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) on Tuesday in Abuja signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with eight organisations in efforts to commercialise its research outputs.
The organisations are National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Auchi Polytechnic, National Mushroom Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.
Others are Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Domtech Consult Ltd., Dalsman Tech Ltd. and Garthdee Enterprises Trust.
Prof. Mohammed Haruna, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI, said that the agreement was influenced by the compelling need to form a synergy in the area of science and development.
He said that it was only such collaborations that could actualise efforts to commercialise successful research outputs.
According to him, certain activities require collaborations with a strong need for market-oriented research.
“Before we invest in certain things, we need to look at if someone had done it before we see how we intend to develop it.
“They may have certain expertise that we don’t have — exposure and experience – as nobody has the monopoly of knowledge,” he said.
Haruna said that business organisations that expressed interest in the research outputs of NASENI were there to market them.
He said that NASENI had various research products, adding, however, that the star product for the moment was the “smart meter”.
“We have seen the companies which have experience in the field of energy. They are participating in the venture and they are the ones that won the bidding process to take the ‘smart meter’ to the market,” he said.
Haruna said that NASENI had other products such as ventilators and other equipment specifically for environmental sanitation, which were requested by the Lagos State Government in large quantities to meet its demand.
He called for collaborations and synergy in the area of technology advancement to help solve Nigeria’s problems.
Responding on behalf of the organisations, Ahmed Nagode, the Director General of NAPTIN, pledged the support of the organisations for the agreement.
