The Sunday Mail
Susan Muzite
The Research Council of Zimbabwe is holding the 11th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium at the Harare International Conference Centre from February 16 to 17, 2017.
The symposium is the premier platform to bring together knowledge generators, knowledge users and funders; in this instance researchers, entrepreneurs and policy-makers.
To “Bridge the Gap”, the RCZ put in place incentives for all parties to come. What incentives are there?
The researchers
There are 104 researchers presenting world-class papers. Authors benefit from publication of their papers in the renowned ZIRS Book of Papers presented, refereed, edited and published to international standards, complete with ISSN and ISBN numbers.
Authors with papers published in the Book stand to benefit from using it for promotional purposes in institutions of higher learning.
In addition, the papers that will be presented are relevant to economic activities of small and medium enterprises.
Young researchers also have the chance to get mentorship from more seasoned ones.
The entrepreneurs
There are 33 business gurus coming from India. The Indian businesses are looking at brokering both export and import deals with their Zimbabwean counterparts.
This will occur as potential partners are receiving the latest scientific knowledge from the generators themselves.
A networking cocktail evening has been organised for cementing relations. It is anticipated that relations created during this event shall be long lasting, beyond the symposium.
The policy-makers
The policy-makers are available to explain to real implementers policy implications in day-to-day operations. There will be lessons from India on how that country created an enabling environment for SMEs and entrepreneurs to be successful.
The policy framework, systems and structures within which SMEs and entrepreneurs operate will be highlighted.
What is in place?
The 11th ZIRS programme includes a plenary session with a presentation from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development on small scale mining in Zimbabwe. This session will also include two presentations from India on their experience on entrepreneurship.
It will end with a presentation from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority which is expected to focus on the promotion of research and development.
At least 34 papers will be presented under the Social Sciences and Humanities thematic area, while about 55 papers will be presented under the Sustainable Environment and Resource Management thematic area. Nine papers will be presented under Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, and seven papers are expected to be presented under the National Security of Zimbabwe theme.
Papers in the Social Sciences and Humanities theme cover areas that include economics and financial services for entrepreneurs; issues affecting development and policy for entrepreneurs, training and employment creation by entrepreneurs, ICT and entrepreneurship; and lastly women and entrepreneurship, among others.
Under the Sustainable Environmental and Resource Management theme, research papers address issues that include waste management and conservation.
The greater number of papers under this thematic area focuses on agriculture, with tobacco being topical among crops that include cotton, coffee, maize, and strawberries, to mention but a few. Renewable energy and engineering issues are also addressed under this area.
The Promoting and Maintaining Good Health thematic area mainly focuses on three areas, which are access to health services, occupational health and radiology.
Last but not least is the National Security of Zimbabwe thematic area, with papers on cyber-crime, impact of agricultural productivity on food security, climate change and invasive species. It is with confidence that RCZ is inviting you all to this meeting of minds. This symposium is unique, the first of its kind and, indeed, a life-changing event that will unlock the potential of entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe in addition to bridging the gap between knowledge generators and users of research results.
Where else would you want to be on February 16 and 17, if not the HICC? The 11th ZIRS is indeed the place to be.
Mrs Susan Muzite is the Executive Director of the Research Council of Zimbabwe
