Firms urged to partner colleges, embrace research
BUSINESSES have been urged to adopt smart inventions informed by research through use of modern technology to achieve sustainable economic growth and improved production.
Speaking during Makomo Resources’ 7th anniversary commemorations in Hwange last Friday, Lupane State University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pardon Kuipa, pleaded with companies to embrace research and partner universities so as to benefit from initiatives such as the Government’s STEM programme.
“Most businesses are redefining the working space by adopting smart inventions as opposed to working hard. The synthesis of science and algorithm will help ease the workplace pressures as people will be able to burgeon their yields by mere re-organisation of processes.
“Millennial enterprises should not shun research but rather embrace it and create new technologies that give sustainability to the lives of our people,” said Prof Kuipa.
“As institutions of higher learning we are ready and are raring to engage with organisations that would want to partner us in making inroads in research. In short we are saying focus on your core business and we will do the research for you.
“STEM is not a classroom allegory or a mere academic acronym but a vehicle to enable the creation of new technologies within our industries.”
Prof Kuipa said in order to maintain a growth trajectory there was a need for business remodel while taking advantage of the high demand for energy.
“In order to maintain growth there is a need to remodel and re-engineer the way things are done so as to realise the value embedded in our resources. The coal demand is high in the world due to the high energy deficit globally. We need to take advantage of the situation and increase our earning as an organisation and resultantly as a nation,” he said.
Prof Kuipa said the demand for a company’s products must go beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
He applauded Makomo’s stance on venturing into renewable energy arguing that the move was in line with the sustainable development goals on the promotion of affordable and clean energy in response to climate.
The company is in the process of building a power plant, which is expected to boost the national grid and increase regional exports.
Makomo produces between 200 000 and 300 000 tonnes of coal per month.
Prof Kuipa also emphasised the need for companies to plough back to the community while lauding the coal miner for its role in corporate social responsibility.
The company has in the past years provided roofing and building materials to different rural schools and installed solar powered boreholes for communities.