REPORT ON MAK-RIF DELEGATION VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK (6–8 OCTOBER 2025)

Delegation:

1. Mr. Simon Kizito
2. Dr. Roy William Mayega 
3. Ms Gloria Naggayi – Research Support Team Lead, Mak-RIF
4. Ms Grace Cherotich Ruto – Engagement Officer, Mak-RIF

1. Background and Purpose

The visit to the University of Warwick was organized to benchmark best practices in research governance, innovation commercialization, and industry collaboration. Particular emphasis was placed on the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)—a leading global model of university-industry-government partnership.

The engagement aimed to generate lessons for establishing a similar Makerere Innovation and Manufacturing Group (MiMG) model within the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) ecosystem, strengthening research culture, ethics, and commercialization pathways across Uganda’s innovation landscape.

2. Objectives of the Visit

1. To study the structure and operations of WMG as a sustainable research-industry hub.
2. To understand research governance, ethics, and culture systems embedded in Warwick’s Research and Impact Services (RIS).
3. To explore collaboration opportunities between Mak-RIF and Warwick, particularly in grants management, commercialization, and capacity building.
4. To identify strategic actions for enhancing research excellence and innovation impact at Makerere University.

   3. Key Engagements and Learnings

Day 1 – Monday 6 October 2025: International Relations and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)

Meetings with: Prof Dan Branch, Prof Franklyn Lisk, Corrina Greenwood, Laura Townsend, Dyrr Ardash, and Prof Kerry Kirwan

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Highlights:

• WMG functions as a semi-autonomous unit within Warwick, blending academic rigor with industry responsiveness through an applied research model.
  The Group hosts industrial fellowships, SME innovation programmes, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and customized training for private sector clients.
• Emphasis on co-creation—researchers, students, and industry partners jointly design projects to solve real-world problems.
• Research Office and Talent Development Teams provide end-to-end support: proposal design, ethics compliance, funding applications, project monitoring, and impact tracking.

  Lesson for Makerere:
   Mak-RIF can adopt a WMG-like structure that integrates academic research and industrial innovation through cluster partnerships (e.g., Agriculture, Health, Energy, ICT).

Day 2 – Tuesday 7 October 2025: Research Governance and Ethics

Sessions with: Dr Dan Blakey, Sam Cole, Carole Harris, Olvi Luur, Vicky Strudwick

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Key Takeaways:

• Warwick’s Research and Impact Services (RIS) is the university’s nerve-centre for policy, funding, and ethics oversight.
• The Research Culture Partnerships Unit (National Centre for Research Culture) leads efforts in responsible research practice, inclusivity, and researcher well-being.
• Clear ethics application workflow ensures research integrity and compliance across faculties.
• Integrated finance and compliance monitoring enhance accountability in grant administration.

  Implications for Mak-RIF:

• Need to establish a Research Culture and Ethics Office within Mak-RIF Secretariat to coordinate ethics capacity building and compliance monitoring for grantees.
• Development of a centralized Research Management System (RMS) to link funding, ethics, and reporting modules.

  Day 3 – Wednesday 8 October 2025: Innovation District and Science Park

Engagements with Mark Tock, Emma Stevens, Jason Hier, and Kusum Gurung

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Observations:

• Warwick Science Park and Innovation District serve as incubators for start-ups and university spin-offs, offering co-working spaces, mentorship, and venture support.
• Facilities include a digital media hub, prototype studios, and industrial labs, all co-financed by university and industry partners.
• Strong links to public funders and regional development agencies ensure commercial uptake and policy alignment.

  Relevance to Mak-RIF:

• Demonstrates a replicable model for the planned Makerere Innovation Hub and Incubation Centre.
• Highlights the importance of linking research output to private-sector investment and regional development agendas.

   

4. Key Lessons for Makerere University and Mak-RIF

5. Strategic Action Points

1. Establish a Makerere Innovation and Manufacturing Group (MiMG):
    Modelled on WMG to strengthen industry linkages, technology transfer, and market-driven research.
2. Institutionalize Research Culture and Ethics Programme:
    Develop training modules on research integrity and ethical review processes for Mak-RIF grantees.
3. Digitize Research Management Systems:
    Integrate funding application, review, monitoring, and impact assessment into one digital platform.
4. Strengthen Commercialization and Partnership Frameworks:
    Develop MoUs with industry and investment bodies (UIA, PSFU, MoSTI) to absorb innovations into the market.
5. Create Innovation and Start-Up Support Mechanisms:
    Incubate Mak-RIF-funded projects with clear business development and intellectual property pipelines.
6. Establish Continuous Learning Exchange with Warwick:
    Develop a joint Mak-RIF – Warwick capacity-building programme on research management, commercialization, and grantsmanship.

 Conclusion

The visit reaffirmed the importance of structured research governance, commercialization capacity, and research culture as drivers of university excellence.Warwick’s WMG and Research and Impact Services present a comprehensive model that Mak-RIF can adapt to create a self-sustaining, ethically grounded and industry-responsive research ecosystem.