SRC to commercialise UTech innovations

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce has partnered with the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the University of Technology (UTech), for the development and commercialisation of local inventions and innovations.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan, yesterday morning April 7, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UTech’s Old Hope campus, under which the SRC has undertaken to market the innovations from research conducted by the university, for the benefit of the country.

The other signatories were Executive Director, SRC, Dr. Chadwick Anderson; Vice President, Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship, UTech, Professor Gossett Oliver; University Librarian, UTech, David Drysdale; Associate Vice President, Academic Management and Quality Assurance, UTech, Dr. Winsome Russell; and Acting Head, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, UTech, Dr. Janet Shelly.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, which was held as part of UTech’s Research and Technology Day 2011, Mr. Budhan underscored that competitiveness of nations is highly dependent on the ability of researchers to harness innovation and technology to build sustainable businesses.

He commended UTech for making research and innovation core aspects of its curriculum.  “Any university that does not have a strong research base does not have any important international recognition,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Professor Oliver said an important aspect of the MoU is that the end product will be commercialised in a way that it will have an impact on the economic growth of the country.

Dr. Anderson said that the MoU is timely and will facilitate greater areas of research and development within the country.

UTech’s Associate Professor for Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul Ivey, stated that the MoU seeks to put in place the mechanism for the generation of research.

“It has been demonstrated in many countries that research and innovation are indispensible requirements for economic development and prosperity of nations, the benefits that can be derived can be used for the benefit of mankind and societies,” he stated.

UTech Research and Technology Day 2011 was held under the theme: ‘Funding Research in Higher Education’.

By CHRIS PATTERSON, JIS Reporter