University Industry Linkages on Commercialization of Innovations of Higher Education: Evidence from Enugu State, South-East Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the university industry linkages on commercialization of innovations of higher education: evidence from Enugu state, South-East Nigeria. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided yje study. The methodology adopted by this study was descriptive survey research in which well validated questionnaire that was used to collect primary data from the five sample units. The said sample units included the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Enugu, NOUN Enugu study centre, Enugu State Government (ENSG), and the Ama Plant of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Ameke Ngwo. The population for the study was 4,361 out of which a sample of 353 respondents was drawn using Cochran’s finite population correction technique. Target respondents for the survey were selected using purposive sampling technique. The study was anchored on two theories, namely, the Diffusion of Information Theory (DOIT), and the New Growth Theory. Multiple Regression Analysis was used to test the four hypotheses of the study. It was the findings of the study that government policies had significant effect on the number of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) sold or bought; that funding mechanisms had significant effect on the number of research contracts awarded to the academic staff; that human resource development had significant effect on the number of scientific conferences or training sponsored by the government or firms; and that communication strategies had significant effect on the number of licensed
inventions being marketed by universities in the system of innovation in Enugu State. It was the recommendation of this study that government should strive to provide the enabling environment that paves way for effective university-industry partnerships by way of formulation of sound policies or aligning of the nation’s industrial policy with her education policy, strengthening of research governance and management and architecture an effective sustainable national system of innovation (NSI). Finally, it was also the recommendations of this study that a sustainable funding mechanism that will target multiple levels including government, private sector and productive sector be put in place; and that stakeholders in the university-industry linkages should embark on regular capacity-building on relevant skills, policy development, IPR management, marketing communications, and entrepreneurship among academic staff of Universities in Enugu State.