Registrar General Calls for Commercialisation of Research at Bishop Stuart University
The Registrar General, Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, has urged universities and innovators to focus on transforming research and creativity into practical products that can contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.
She made the remarks during the launch of the Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara City, where government officials, researchers, students, innovators, and development partners gathered to celebrate the growing innovation movement within institutions of higher learning.
Ms. Kainobwisho said the expansion of TISCs across Uganda is enabling the creation of a stronger culture of innovation and commercialisation within institutions of learning.
“Technology and Innovation Support Centres are creating pathways for students, researchers, and innovators to transform ideas into commercially viable solutions. Through the TISC network and the IP in Schools initiative, URSB is supporting the Government of Uganda’s vision of building a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, research, and creativity,” she says.
Ms. Kainobwisho noted that Uganda’s development depends on the country’s ability to generate and protect ideas.
“Uganda’s development agenda requires us to create innovations, generate knowledge, commercialise ideas, and enforce intellectual property rights effectively,” she said.
She added that many Ugandans are creative but often fail to benefit fully from their innovations due to limited protection and commercialisation.
“We want to see research and innovation not remaining on library shelves, but translating into practical products and solutions that can compete in the market,” she said.
