From Science to Innovation: Transforming Knowledge into Economic Growth

In a powerful and insightful presentation, Dr. Umar Bindir, a seasoned scientist and public administrator, demystifies the often misunderstood journey from science to innovation. He emphasizes how Nigeria and many African nations lag behind in transforming academic knowledge into practical, wealth-generating technologies. Drawing from his talk and supported by global standards, this article explores the critical elements of scientific research, technology development, intellectual property (IP), and patenting, and how they connect to drive national development.

Understanding the Three Houses of Innovation

Dr. Bindir opens by cautioning against mixing roles and expectations among science, technology, and innovation. He categorizes stakeholders into three distinct but interconnected houses:

• Science: Dominated by PhDs, professors, and researchers who operate in laboratories, producing academic knowledge and peer-reviewed publications.

• Technology: This is the practical domain where scientific concepts are filtered, refined, and tested. It involves engineers and technologists who prototype scientific findings.

  
  

• Innovation: The commercial application of technology. This is where products meet the market and generate socioeconomic impact.

  
  

Dr. Bindir argues that simply generating academic knowledge doesn’t equal national progress. That knowledge must be transformed into usable, scalable technologies and innovations.

From Scientific Discovery to Technological Application

Dr. Bindir highlights that scientific papers are not equivalent to technology. Instead, technology begins when scientific principles are proven through practical prototypes. The OECD defines technology as the "application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes." A prototype is a critical stepping stone—it bridges the lab and the marketplace. Without it, science remains abstract and inaccessible to the broader society.

Intellectual Property: The Legal Protection of Innovation

Once an invention emerges from technology, it must be protected through intellectual property (IP) to prevent theft and encourage investment. Dr. Bindir likens IP to property documents. Just as land ownership requires a certificate, innovations need patents or trademarks to be secured.

A patent grants the inventor exclusive rights to their invention. For a patent to be approved, it must meet three key criteria:

• Novel: Not known or used before anywhere in the world.

• Industrially applicable: It must serve a practical purpose.

• Non-obvious: Even experts should find the idea inventive.

  
  

Beyond patents, other forms of IP include:

• Trademarks (brand identity),

• Industrial designs (product aesthetics), and

• Plant varieties (in biological innovation).

  
  

The Innovation Gap in Nigerian Academia

Despite Nigeria having many universities and professors, few generate patents or innovations. Dr. Bindir laments that global university rankings heavily rely on patents, not just publications. For example, MIT earns billions annually from patents, while most African universities depend on government subventions.

The Nigerian academic ecosystem is robust in theory but weak in application. This is largely due to the absence of a national intellectual property policy, a lack of patent attorneys, and limited institutional synergy.

Technology Transfer: A Path to Economic Impact

Protecting IP is not the end—transferring technology to the industry is where real economic impact begins. Dr. Bindir explains several commercialization methods:

• Full sale of rights

• Licensing

• Joint ventures

  
  

These processes are standard in developed nations. In those markets, professors can become millionaires through licensing deals while remaining in academia. Unfortunately, such systems are largely absent in Nigeria.

The Role of Social Scientists in Innovation Uptake

Dr. Bindir humorously reminds us that social scientists and communicators are critical to the innovation chain. Public acceptance of new technologies—especially sensitive ones like GMOs—requires effective communication, cultural framing, and behavior change strategies.

Innovation isn't just about creating a product; it's also about convincing society to accept and adopt it. This is a crucial step in ensuring that scientific advancements translate into real-world benefits.

The Need for Integrated Institutions and National IP Policy

In Nigeria, IP institutions are fragmented across various ministries—Industry, Justice, Science & Tech—leading to inefficiencies. Dr. Bindir calls for better institutional collaboration and a national intellectual property policy to streamline the innovation pipeline and align all stakeholders.

The Way Forward: Measurable Innovation and Partnership

Dr. Bindir ends his talk by calling for research impact assessments. Universities should be evaluated not just by published research but by how much of that research is commercialized, scaled, and useful to the public. True innovation lies at the intersection of science, technology, and social uptake.

He advocates for cross-sectoral partnerships between government agencies, research institutions, and communication platforms to amplify the benefits of scientific breakthroughs.

In conclusion, Dr. Bindir’s talk serves as a wake-up call to academia, policymakers, and innovators across Africa. It’s not enough to conduct research; we must translate knowledge into value, protect it, and deliver it to society through innovation and technology transfer. Building this ecosystem requires intentional policy, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and, above all, a cultural shift towards valuing applied knowledge.

Explore more about the journey from research to practical implementations that can shape our economy.

ScienceToInnovation TechnologyTransfer IntellectualProperty Patent InnovationAfrica DrUmarBindir NigeriaResearch AcademicInnovation