This is probably the fourth time that i have visited MIIC. It is Makerere University’s Innovation and Incubation Center. I was here before when the faciltipy was just being set up and everything was new. The next time i visited was with a team from Creative Commons then led by a PHD Student from Library and Information Systems as well as a Lawyer and Director of an Women Rights NGO.
We used the 5th floor site for the CC event which was desinged to help the creative commons leadership team in Uganda get acquainted with the news regarding the chapter. It is and was a standard practice to think of Incubators and Accelerators as building probably made of brick with brightly colored chairs, quotations on the wall and images of famous people in tech and industry adorning the walls.
Achievements Galore
Much has taken place since i was last here. The University has created many great minds and innovations. I can attest to this. I was around when the likes of Africell spent a whole day at the Ivory Tower with young technologists from all sorts of fields with all sorts of innovations. Agriculture, Health, Finance and many more.
In the past i have described and attempted to map the tech and innovation ecosystem but mentioned very little about a University based Innovation and Technology based Ecosystem. This is at the heart of the Silicon Valley Model many of us like to use with places like Stanford University located not too far away from the offices of technology giants.
Why Universities make such great tech and innovation ecosystems
The ecosystem though is much more broad than i can ever hope to imagine. It spans accross various faculties or school whether that is in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, Food Technology or Computer Science and Information Systems.
The small part that i am visiting and writing about is just one place where students at this University can congregate at least in a place where they can access fast internet for their personal use, research, conferences (web meetings) and presentations.
Pipelines and Possibilities
In the past, there were events that were hosted by the ICT School where various high schools were represented. These events/exhbitions were attended by different diplomatic groups as well as other participants to engage with the students and to give them an opportunity to share their ideas. I guess technologists call this a pipeline? A system that is set up to have a flow where you can predict and excel and move from level to level upwards.
A whole new level of connections
The University provides a unique opportunity to connect with people at a completely different level. Whether these are medical schools, research laboratories, think tanks or any other such groups, the technology and innovation ecosystem at this level builds at a completely different level.
Patents and Agreements
Perhaps some of the challenges or benefits that exist with this type of ecosystem may arise out of Intellectual Property and the split of profits that may arise when a student of the university creates a product while still under the umbrella of the university. He/she may enjoy the benefits of being covered by the larger setting which can absorbe the costs of getting patent lawyers (for example) or at least give the student a connection to the Law School where these services can be accessed. The student can also benefit from the marketing arm provided by the university. But the share of profits especially from derivative products that may result from the invention or intellectual property are much harder to handle especially when the student moves on. For this and the previous point I recommend that you read Dr. McClean Sibanda’s books both of which tackles the subject extensively while not devoted entirely to the single subject of Universities and Innovation.
