After an intensive five-day program filled with impactful learning activities, the Research to Commercialization and Development Workshop, a hallmark of the Innovation to Market (I2M) Project of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), drew to a successful close on Friday, February 7, 2025.
The workshop, sponsored by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa Fund (RISA), was held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC), UNILAG. It provided a collaborative platform for participants drawn from various institutions across Nigeria to explore pathways to turn research into real-world solutions.
Over the course of the week, the workshop offered six (6) dynamic group activities, one enriching learning tour, five (5) in-depth case studies, and twelve (12) comprehensive learning modules. These sessions provided the participants with practical knowledge on critical topics such as entrepreneurship development, intellectual property, research-to-commercialization (R2C), data management, and policies that guide the commercialization process.
Speaking at the end of the workshop, the I2M Project Lead, Dr. Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori provided valuable insights into the objectives behind the R2C initiative. She highlighted the support offered through prototype funding, intellectual property filing, startup grants, business registration, and industry linkages.
According to her, “…the Innovation to Market (I2M) Project seeks to bridge the gap between research and industry by supporting innovators through various stages of commercialization”.
Dr. Gbenga-Ilori disclosed that the I2M Project has successfully established a consortium of Directors of Research and Innovation Offices of various institutions across Nigeria, with a view of building capacity and equipping participants with the tools needed to further develop commercialization strategies at their institutions.
In an interaction with participants, Project Manager of the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa Fund (RISA), Mrs. Alice Omisore spoke on the core objectives as well as initiatives in ensuring that RISA is able to continue to foster transnational collaboration as well as facilitating commercialization of research innovation within university community across Africa. She also expressed her organization’s pride in being a part of the program described as impactful.
In her remarks at the workshop’s closing session, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) Professor Ayodele Victoria Atsenuwa expressed delight at the participants’ engagement throughout the workshop.
Professor Atsenuwa, who also served as a facilitator during the program, underscored the importance of integrating research commercialization into academic systems, ensuring that research innovations can make meaningful contributions to society. She encouraged the participants to go back to their universities, inspire their students and staff, and continue to innovate for the betterment of our society.
The closing session also featured a roundtable discussion, where participants presented their plans to support R2C initiatives within their institutions. Each institution representative was presented with a certificate in recognition of their commitment and contribution to the workshop’s success.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Ayo Oloyede
