Mak-RIF at 12th Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum

Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) participated in the 12^th Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum (APPPF) organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa. This Forum was held on the 15^th to 17^th of March 2023 at the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre, Dar es salaam Tanzania under the Theme: Nurturing Sustainable skills development for graduate employability through Academia-Industry partnerships. APPPF is held every two years and it brings together academia, private sector and Government to deliberate on how to foster joint dialogue and enhance the linkage between the private sector and higher education institutions, as well as engagement with the public sector. The forum was attended by several universities in Eastern and Central Africa.

The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor; Prof. Henry Alinaitwe (Centre) and members of Mak-RIF Secretariat; Ms. Gloria Naggayi, Research Support Officer and Ms. Grace Ruto Cherotich, Engagement Officer at the 12^th The Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum (APPPF).

Discussions during the forum highlighted the role of universities in economic and social development; focusing on training, innovations and generation of scientific data to support industry. It was also an opportunity to pass on a caution to universities for the need to understand that development changes are happening so fast necessitating universities to adapt quickly in order to keep up with the pace.  The need to strengthen the innovations and research ecosystem was also emphasized and different recommendations such as involvement of the private sector for achievement of sustainable development through-out the innovation ecosystem, encouraging researchers and innovators to register and open companies, defining the roles of different stakeholders in the ecosystem (Promote collaboration to realize an operational conveyor belt) and encouraging researchers and innovators to strive and move beyond disseminations and exhibitions to registration of Intellectual property and commercialization and scaling up of products.

Learning for Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF)

• Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund Secretariat needs to be empowered in regards to Intellectual Property (IP) rights. IP must be considered throughout the project lifecycle and the patent search for ownership should be done by researchers at the ideation stage. Mak-RIF should consider ascertaining the originality of proposed innovations and ideas during the review of applications for funding.
• Stakeholder identification, prioritization and defining the roles of all stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem will promote stronger collaboration and partnership
• Engagements such as this one will further contribute to the improvement of Mak-RIF’s visibility and in so doing, attract more collaborations with other Universities, Development Partners and the private sector within and beyond the region.
• Engaging in research and innovation output exhibitions provides a platform for dissemination of these outputs and products thus REACH a pool of stakeholders that could collaborate for scale up and commercialization.
• Engaging in exhibitions also provides an opportunity for universities to share and learn from each other thus avoiding replication/duplication of research and innovations ideas.

The Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund Team was recognized for their outstanding contribution the APPPF Conference. The Certificate of Recognition is shared on  \Mak-RIF Stakeholder Engagement Strategy\certificate of recognition at the APPPF Conference.pdf   and on

Engagements at the 12^th Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum (APPPF) in Pictures

The Mak-RIF also participated in the exhibition arm of the 12^th Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum. It is in the exhibition where different Mak-RIF activities and projects were showcased largely using video footage. This exhibition stall was managed by Mak-RIF’ Engagement Officer and Research Support Officer who participated in the Forum.

Members from Moi University and University of Dar es Salaam while at the Mak-RIF stall appreciated Government of the Republic of Uganda for funding Research and Innovations in Makerere University, Deputy Vice Chancellor; Prof. Henry Alinaitwe engaging the stalls at the 12^th The Academia-Public-Private-Partnership Forum (APPPF).