A Critical Analysis of Strategies for Government–Universities–Industry on Technology Transfer in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The interests of Government, University and Industry differ because of the socio political-economic dispensation. Government is more concerned with solutions for its citizens at a lower social cost, universities aim for researches in which they have an advantage, industry is more concerned in making profits. This lack of common ground leaves all parties without interest for each other therefore harmonisation of policies through a committee for Government-University-Industry in required. Collaborations have an effect on all the three players to create synergy, an observation is that whilst the communication channels have generally improved the availability of information, finding the relevant information is always a problem for universities considering that most of them do not have experts in their institution in Zimbabwe. In most circumstances institutions end up using information which is not relevant to their needs. It helps universities build research capacity and industry to enhance innovation therefore technology transfer can be achieved. Normally industry provides the funding; universities the human resources and Government create any enabling environment. In analysing the gathered data, the researcher observed that the Intellectual property right system that is in place is impacted upon by the lack of a national directing policy or policies. Inefficiency is not a result of lack of enabling laws, but the lack of direction in which the laws can be put to use in Technology transfer. Zimbabwe has not gained much from the technology transfer because of inadequacies in the technology transfer spectrum from creation to management through to utilisation of creations, that is, national administration systems and utilisation.