The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has embarked on a significant internal restructuring aimed at bolstering its research and development efforts, promoting innovation, and driving the commercialization of its technological outputs. This strategic shift prioritizes internal collaboration and the utilization of in-house products and technologies across all NASENI institutes before seeking external alternatives. The initiative, spearheaded by NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, is built upon the belief that fostering a robust internal ecosystem will not only refine NASENI’s innovations through real-world application but also significantly enhance their market readiness and appeal to external consumers. This new directive establishes a comprehensive framework for inter-institute patronage, positioning it as the cornerstone of NASENI’s commercialization strategy.
A key element of this policy mandates that all eleven of NASENI’s development institutes, including newly established and emerging centers, prioritize the integration of internally developed technologies, equipment, and innovations. This mandate extends to a wide range of products, from machinery and equipment to software solutions, all developed within the NASENI network. This internal adoption strategy is designed to provide a crucial testing ground for innovations, allowing for rigorous assessment and refinement based on real-world usage and feedback. This ‘test-then-release’ approach aims to build confidence in the quality and effectiveness of NASENI’s products, thereby strengthening their market position for eventual external commercialization. The directive also emphasizes adherence to existing procurement laws, ensuring all internal transactions are conducted within the established legal framework.
To further solidify this commitment to internal synergy, NASENI has implemented a multi-pronged approach. The agency is promoting the active and visible integration of its branded products, such as the NASENI laptop, within its own operations, wherever budget allocations permit. This serves as a powerful demonstration of the agency’s faith in its own innovations and sets a clear precedent for broader adoption. Complementing this is the establishment of internal pilot programs, designed to rigorously test NASENI’s products in diverse operational settings across its institutes. These real-world trials offer invaluable opportunities for feedback collection and subsequent product refinement, ensuring that innovations are optimized for both functionality and user experience. This iterative development process aims to produce robust, market-ready solutions that effectively address specific needs.
To facilitate communication and knowledge sharing across its various institutes, NASENI has planned bi-annual showcase events. These events will serve as platforms for demonstrating the latest innovations, sharing insights and best practices related to product development and implementation, and exploring potential integration opportunities among the institutes. This regular interaction will foster a collaborative environment, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas and promoting a sense of shared purpose in advancing NASENI’s overall technological capabilities. This collaborative spirit extends beyond internal showcases, with institutes encouraged to establish mini-showrooms in strategic urban locations. These showrooms will offer a tangible demonstration of NASENI’s innovative prowess, exhibiting a diverse range of products developed across its network. This increased visibility aims to raise public awareness and attract potential partners and customers, furthering the commercialization goals of the agency.
Recognizing that effective product adoption requires more than just availability, NASENI has also prioritized training initiatives. Comprehensive training sessions will be conducted across all institutes, equipping staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize and promote NASENI-developed products. This empowerment of staff serves a dual purpose: it ensures optimal utilization of the technologies within NASENI’s own operations, and it equips staff to become effective advocates for these products in the wider market. Furthermore, NASENI is leveraging the influence of its internal leadership to endorse the use of internally developed solutions. This top-down endorsement serves to reinforce the message of quality and reliability, enhancing the credibility of NASENI’s products and strengthening their appeal for external commercialization.
The agency also emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing partnerships, such as the collaboration with IMOSE, as a source of internally adopted products. This collaborative approach not only maximizes resource utilization but also strengthens external relationships and fosters a spirit of shared success. To ensure continuous improvement and track the effectiveness of its new policy, NASENI has implemented a robust review mechanism. This framework mandates regular reporting from each institute, detailing product usage, feedback gathered from practical application, and any challenges encountered. This constant flow of information will provide valuable insights into the performance and adoption rates of NASENI’s products, enabling data-driven decision-making and facilitating targeted improvements in both product development and implementation strategies.
In conclusion, NASENI’s strategic shift towards prioritizing internal collaboration and the utilization of in-house products represents a comprehensive effort to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and drive the successful commercialization of its technological outputs. This multifaceted approach, encompassing internal product adoption, pilot programs, showcase events, training initiatives, leadership endorsement, and a robust review mechanism, is designed to create a virtuous cycle of innovation, refinement, and market success. By fostering a culture of internal collaboration and leveraging the collective expertise and resources within its network, NASENI aims to not only enhance its own operational efficiency but also position itself as a leading force in technological advancement and a key contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth. This comprehensive strategy underscores NASENI’s commitment to becoming a self-sustaining and impactful organization, driving innovation and technological advancement within Nigeria and beyond.
