Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers Launches Innovation Portal and Research Policy to Boost Engineering Innovations
In a move aimed at streamlining the engineering industry and fostering innovation, the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) has launched the UIPE Innovation Portal alongside the Research, Innovation, and Intellectual Property Management Policy and its implementation plan.
The event, held in Kampala, brought together key stakeholders committed to supporting young innovators in transforming ideas into market ready products.
Speaking at the event, UIPE President Eng. Bosco Lepi emphasized the institution’s dedication to integrating fresh engineering graduates and innovators into the ecosystem.
He noted that many promising ideas often fail to progress beyond the prototype stage due to limited knowledge on product development and commercialization.
“Through this initiative, we aim to bridge the gap between research and market entry by providing the necessary support for innovators,” Eng. Lepi said.
He also highlighted funding from the Royal Academy of the UK, which has supported the program, enabling up to 10 innovators, including female engineers, to benefit from financial and technical assistance.
Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Dr. Monica Musenero addressed the challenges hindering innovation in Uganda.
She pointed out that while many innovators generate excellent ideas, few manage to transition them into commercially viable products due to a lack of understanding of the commercialization journey.
“The first phase is the best research, leading to intellectual property registration and prototype development. Many ideas die in the second phase because innovators underestimate the length and complexity of the journey. Some try to sell prototypes too early instead of developing them into fully fledged products or finding partners for further development,” Dr. Musenero explained.
The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation has taken deliberate steps to bolster Uganda’s innovation landscape.
Dr. Musenero highlighted several support mechanisms in place, including a One Stop Center to guide innovators on intellectual property and market entry, Incubation Centers to help young innovators cut costs, such as the Namanve facility for electrical engineers, and funding for industrial value chains, currently covering eight areas, including the pathogen economy, space science and aeronautics, Industry 4.0, and reverse engineering. More sectors will receive funding in future phases.
“The ministry has drastically shifted Uganda’s approach to science and innovation, and in the coming years, we aspire to be a leading country in this field,” Dr. Musenero affirmed.
The UIPE Innovation Portal and policy launch come at a time when Uganda faces a high youth unemployment rate. By nurturing homegrown innovations, the initiative aims to create employment opportunities and drive economic growth.
With continued collaboration between UIPE, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and international partners, Uganda’s engineering and innovation sector is set for a transformative shift that will see more research translated into tangible solutions for national development.
