The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in partnership with the Triple Helix Nigeria (THN) has concluded plans to host an annual conference tagged “SciBiz” in a bid to create a platform for stakeholders to share ideas, explore opportunities and co-create the commercialisation of research outputs.
The event themed ‘Integrating Research Innovation and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to a Digital Nigeria’, is targeted to brings together the academia, industry and government with the purpose of formulating strategies to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and practical applications in solving societal challenges.
The group notes that the Triple Helix model has been a proven mechanism for fostering innovation ecosystems in advanced economies which has been largely lacking in Nigeria due of limited interaction between stakeholders in the academia, industry and government.
The Conference, which is being sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), is touted as a strategic response to “the urgent need to strengthen innovations that convert research findings into marketable products and services, generate employment, and stimulate economic growth.”
Key programme elements, as announced, include Plenary Sessions, featuring expert keynote speakers from Nigeria and abroad, panel discussions in which leaders from the academia, industry, and government, would explore how to overcome barriers to research commercialisation and innovation in Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Corporate Communications Department of NCDMB the conference will include Innovation Pitching Competition, to be conducted in collaboration with OxFounders, featuring presentation of projects undertaken by startups and innovators to potential investors and partners.
The statement further explained that other key elements are Workshops and Breakout Sessions, involving discussion groups focusing on research funding, intellectual property management, and fostering entrepreneurial mindset in universities.
The statement read: “target audience for the conference are academics and researchers from Nigerian and international universities, representatives from industries.
“Including startups and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), government officials and policymakers in science, technology, and innovation sectors, investors and venture capitalists, international organisations and development partners, innovators, entrepreneurs, and students.”
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