The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere
Government has spent over $1 billion on registering intellectual property and operationalising start-ups at State universities to stimulate nascent industrialisation of the economy through innovation.
Speaking at the University of Zimbabwe’s 2022 Research, Innovation and Industrialisation Week official opening on Thursday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government will provide requisite funding to support innovators.
“The Government provides funding until the student is able to register and operate their startup companies,” he said.
“We have the money and here at the University of Zimbabwe, we have already registered a number of startup companies.”
Professor Murwira said registration of startups will generate income for universities, broadening Government’s revenue streams through taxes.
“So the company belongs to the student and the university has a shareholding, but it’s a minority shareholding. “This is so that the university generates money to sponsor more innovators through the flow of money that comes from these companies,” he added.
“So for instance, if we have 1 000 startups that are remitting US$1 000 each to the University per month, we end up with US$1 million.
“The money is there, and we have already spent over $1 billion to support innovators and help them start their own businesses.”
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza said registration of intellectual properties and start-up companies remains subdued.
“As such, we are reviewing a number of laws to make it easier for innovators to register their intellectual property and start-up companies,” she added.
“We are reviewing all laws affecting intellectual property to suit Government’s new demands of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda.”
She said the Patent Act, Industrial Designs Act and Copyright Act were being reviewed to facilitate ease of registration of new innovations. Chief registrar of deeds, companies and intellectual property Mr Willie Mushayi said registration procedures for new companies had been streamlined.
“For example, the registrar can now assist startup companies who are not sure how to go about the process. We are automating our services to make them quicker and convenient.
“The new system is currently being tested and we hope to have it in place soon.”
Young entrepreneurs showcased various innovations including geospatial technology, solar-powered tobacco drying barns and remote electric faults tracking systems.
Tanyaradzwa Gaza from the university’s department of Geography, geospatial sciences and earth observation said the technology can be used in forestry and wildlife conservation, mineral prospecting, security and defence.
“We can track poachers, map settlements and collect data on invasive species and potential veld fires,” he said.
Tinashe Madondo from the department of aeronautic engineering used reverse engineering to develop a multi-purpose unmanned drone.
