Innovation hubs shouldn’t reinvent the wheel

ZIMBABWE’S higher education pathway has been premised on the need to convert knowledge into goods and services. It started as positive rhetoric, which was followed up by action, as State universities are setting up innovation hubs.

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) already have theirs commissioned, while other State institutions are putting final touches to what will be conversion centres for theoretical knowledge into practical application.

If rolled out in the manner articulated by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, there is real potential for economic turnaround through ideas smoothened in these hubs.

Optimists may have to hold their breath as the success of these facilities is conditional.

Having innovation hubs is a strong statement of industrial intent by Zimbabwe, but the tangibles will demand a lot more from the country’s academia. These hubs should not be places where existing ideas are redone by Zimbabwean hands. If a product already exists elsewhere and works with maximum efficiency, there is no need to expend energy, as well as resources, trying to produce a similar product in Zimbabwe unless the localised version brings with it a comparative advantage.

Emerging innovators and those supervising them should be wary of reducing the hubs into halls where replicas are created.

Solutions from these hubs should answer the most pertinent of questions in the country.

If the interpretation of what Zimbabwe needs would be made according to contemporary challenges, Zimbabwe would need more hands on deck on issues to do with fields like energy.

Beyond the technical knowledge of how a field operates, which is what a degree gives to people, there is need for environmental awareness. Knowing how the accumulated nuances, skills and depth will benefit the society which will assimilate the graduates.

Innovation hubs should be where students are tested on their readiness to make positive impact in the economy. Perhaps there should be guided processes, which determine where most focus should be placed by those utilising the hubs. Whatever is done within the hubs should communicate with key needs of the economy and the Government’s vision, as long as they are evidence-based.

The hubs should be run on an open-door policy, where access is not exclusive to university students. It should be a platform where collaborations between vocational training centres, polytechnics and universities are materialised.

A collusion of knowledge, expertise and its application can ensure that implementable ideas are crafted. The days of prototypes that do not make it beyond science fairs and exhibitions should be behind us if innovation hubs are implemented properly. Space for abstract ideas should be kept open. All institutions with innovation hubs should engage with the community they are in, looking for ideas which may not necessarily fall within the academic spectrum, but show potential. Stories have been written of unheralded geniuses who have come up with solutions in their respective areas of residence.

That alone, presents a strong social responsibility point for universities and innovation hubs.

Ultimately, these hubs should grow to a point of self-sustenance. Ideas developed in the hubs should blossom to points of commercial viability, retaining some of the revenue to a fund that will finance their running in the long run.

If they become a permanent fixture in Government’s expenditure, then they would have failed. Centres that cannot be weaned off when the time is right cannot be trusted with creating sustainable ideas. Another way of ensuring innovation hubs live to their billing is to incentivise applicability.

Those with ideas most likely to work in the Zimbabwean environment should be rewarded.

Delivering 2020 National Budget last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube spoke on prospects of venture capital on fresh ideas. Venture capital is money invested in an innovative enterprise in which both the potential and risk of loss are considerable. Government must ensure those who have the best ideas are given funding, mentorship and get waivers to supply public entities which the product or service they would have come up with.

This is not rocket science and can be actioned as long as there is more emphasis on executing ideas than hosting workshops.

There is comfort in the fact that the man overseeing the implementation of the idea has ideological clarity when it comes to the role of research in the country’s development.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira has been championing Heritage-Based Education.

This is education that speaks to the needs of a people and leverages available resources.

Will his vision come to fruition in a manner that benefits the country? We watch.

Encouraging is the fact that the building of these innovation hubs, especially the one at University of Zimbabwe, students from Harare Polytechnic and experts from the Government’s Department of Works collaborated in its construction. Could this be a sign of what is to come from the hubs: a country that has faith in the products of its education system?

Time for students to rise to the occasion and come up with innovations relevant to Zimbabwe.

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