1. Industry Partnerships and Collaborations
Professor Olawole O. Obembe
Professor of Plant Biotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences
A paper presented at the Executive Advance /2019 Academic Session For Faculty and Senior Non-Teaching Staff at Covenant University, Ota, on August 7, 2018
Theme: ‘Recite’ Approach for the Attainment of Vision 10:2022

2. Introduction University and industry have a long history of collaboration Benefits of partnerships between the university and industry include: i. Skills development (education and training), ii. Generation, acquisition, and adoption of knowledge (innovation and technology transfer), iii. The promotion of entrepreneurship (start-ups and spin-offs).

3. The cultural divide between Universities and Industry
The University Culture:
The University generally has a discovery-driven culture.
The industry environment:
The industry has innovation-driven environment; which always pushes for new advanced products with better value, cheaper production processes and in some cases cleaner environment.

4. Conflicting Values - Common Interest
UNIVERSITY
INDUSTRY
Commercialization of New and Useful Technologies
Teaching
Research
Service
Economic Development
Profits
Product R&D
Knowledge for Knowledge’s Sake
Academic Freedom Open Discourse
Management of Knowledge for Profit
Confidentiality Limited Public Disclosure

5. Blending the University Research and Entrepreneurial Cultures
Academics
research priorities set by investigator
grant-seeking
publications
patenting driven by publications
serendipity
Industry
research priorities set by management
profit-seeking
proprietary
patenting driven by business decisions
control

6. Blending the University Research and Entrepreneurial Cultures
Academic perspective;
“Why partner with industry?”
Exposure to industry collaboration
Build research endowment
Reward investigator/inventor
Additional source of research funds
Application of research for public good

7. Blending the University Research and Entrepreneurial Cultures
Industry perspective;
“Why partner with universities?”
Research institutions are rich source of new ideas and technology
Cheaper to support research and to license new technology
Biotech industry looks to academic collaborations for early stage technology

8. Blending the University Research and Entrepreneurial Cultures
How do you bring the two cultures together?
1. Employment Policy with respect to the rights and obligations of the University and faculty
Favorable Policy on Intellectual Property
(Ownership and its transfer)
3. Revenue Sharing
4. Faculty Involvement

9. Types of partnerships
Long-term strategic partnership is top priority for world-class universities. It influences the university’s future research and a company’s strategy.
Operational partnership is based on joint research projects between universities and industry
Transactional partnership puts significant impact on teaching and learning e.g. between CU and SoftCom.

10. Challenge of attracting partnerships in developing economies
Industry’s expectation is the supply of well-educated human resources rather than production of creative inventions.
Most firms either develop their own technologies or import cutting edge technologies from advanced countries.
A research carried out years back in the UK identified barriers to U-I collaborations, which may not be completely different from that of Nigeria;

11. of 20

12. Industry Partnership Efforts in Covenant University
The Proprietor base and the Management of Covenant University have been highly supportive in driving bilateral relationships with the external context.
A brief summary of our engagements with the external context since 2016/2017 academic session is as displayed on next slides:

13. - Bel Papyrus Limited - The Blood Bank of Nigeria - Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria Sciences - Health Peak - Tecnik Specialist & Consultancy Ltd Viper Solutions Health Forever Nig. Ltd

14. - Goldtrack Business Palace Nig. Ltd.
- The Nigerian Foundries Limited, Ota, Ogun State
- Honeywell Flour Mills Nig. Plc
- Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi-FIIRO
- Alkem Nig. Ltd, Lagos
- Merck Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences Ltd.
- VSR International Nigeria Ltd, N-Biotek South Korea  

15. Feats achieved by Covenant University on industry partnership platforms
Covenant University participated in eleven (11) Exhibitions between the year 2016 through 2018.
Best participating University at the 12th Abuja International Trade Fair, October 2017.
Best Private University at Lagos International Trade Fair November, 2017.
3rd position out of 640 products at the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology Expo 2017
1st position out of 199 products at the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology Expo 2018

16. IDENTIFIABLE GAPS
In the course of engaging collaborators, CUCRID observed that Covenant University should as a matter of urgency institute a statutory Committee on how best to market available products now.
The terms of reference:
Advise on available products and this may include outright sales of patent rights on the products to investors or establishment of a plant to mass produce the products.

17. Terms of reference cont’d:
Recommend to the Proprietor base through the Management what to invest on such products or otherwise
Advise on the economic values of products even from the proposal stage.
Establish a solid interaction with product developers on how to get ready markets for Covenant University products.
Create a strong awareness on Covenant University’s products on our website inviting prospective investors for discussion with the Committee.

18. Conclusion
Collaboration between the Ivory Tower and Industry is a worthwhile initiative particularly in attracting industrial funds to institutions across the world.
Our Management must be commended for driving this noble initiative.
However, much is still required in the area of providing a robust marketing mechanism for our products not only in Nigeria but across the world.
I am convinced that the required framework would be put in place to actualize this.

19. Thank you for listening