Background

The establishment of the Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP) was approved at the 215th Statutory Senate meeting held on Thursday 30th August, 2018 sequel to a proposal from the University Management to merge the Directorate of Grants Management and Centre for Internationalization and Partnership. DRIP started operations on Wednesday 2nd January 2019.

The Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP) houses Grants Management; Intellectual Property Rights/Patenting; Technology Incubation and Commercialization as well as Linkages and Partnership. In line with FUNAAB’s Vision and Mission; the Directorate is responsible for the affairs of research, innovation, internationalization and partnership on behalf of the University. The Directorate provides support for grants-sourcing and grants proposal writing to the University community. The activities of the directorate also involve management of scholarships and grants for staff training and development.

To achieve its aims and objectives, DRIP will engage local and international developmental/Donor Agencies, mentor, coordinate and spur capacity to source for grant and ensure efficient utilization of research grants. In promoting the research enterprise at FUNAAB and partner institutions; DRIP will provide support and incubation space for startups, develop and promote research partnerships with industry, governments, and not-for-profits organizations including other academic institutions, and provides the intellectual property and commercial expertise that are needed to advance discoveries/technologies to the marketplace.

DRIP will help innovators find each other through establishment of Innovation Platforms. DRIP is also responsible for negotiating research agreements and/or other MoU’s between FUNAAB and its partners. DRIP seeks to protect University or individual staff intellectual property rights, and negotiate/facilitate and house lic ense agreements for technologies developed by FUNAAB researchers with third-parties.

The Directorate serves as recruitment and hosting hub for international staff and students (both undergraduate and postgraduate). DRIP strives to support the national, regional and international innovation ecosystem. DRIP will leverage on existing and future FUNAAB international networks to cultivate university-to-business, university-to-government and university-to-not-for-profit engagements.

Objectives

The objectives of the Directorate are as follows: –

1. To promote high-impact and focused research in evolving thematic areas in order to transform the University into a credible knowledge-hub of international standing;
2. To establish a mechanism for technology/knowledge transfer and product development with the aim of generating spin-offs and intellectual Property (IP) rights in order to make research truly functional;
3. To act as a link with national, regional and international organizations/institutions and establish a data bank for all partnerships and externally funded research and development project in order to ensure effective coordination/implementation;
4. To be a repository of resources by establishing a database that will collate, collect, store, process and disseminate information on research, publications, innovation and networks for the benefit of the University community and others;
5. To coordinate all aspect of research, innovation and critical partnerships and advice Senate and the Management on priorities, resources and other related issues in order to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and feedback; and
6. Handle issues relating to recruitment and hosting of international students.

General Functions

1. Defining the research focus of the University in different disciplines
2. Initiating and supporting the University research endeavours;
3. Sourcing and management of research funds;
4. Provision of guidelines for researchers;
5. Coordinating and managing scholarships and grants for staff training and development;
6. Patenting and keeping of copy rights;
7. Commercialization/Marketing of research output;
8. Internationalization and Partnerships;
9. Sourcing, recruitment and hosting of international staff and students;
10. Promote the publicity and feasibility of research activities in the University.

Structure

The Directorate operates under Four (4) units each headed by a Coordinator, namely: Grants Management Unit; Intellectual Property Unit; Innovations, Technology Incubation and Commercialization Unit; and Linkages and Partnerships Unit

The functions of the various units are as follows:

Grants Management Unit

1. To oversee the implementation of the University’ research policy frame-work and guide towards generating new knowledge in the thematic areas identified in the University Research Policy.
2. To strengthen general research activities of the University by providing benchmarks, training of academic and non – academic staff.
3. To provide conducive environment for collaborative and interdisciplinary world-class researches.
4. To support indexed publications among staff and upgrade local publications outlets for international listings and indexing.
5. To vet and recommend to the Vice-Chancellor applications for research grants from the University research funds.
6. To act as clearing house for, and disseminator of, information on research issues and activities in the University.
7. To facilitate the publications of research outputs
8. To screen, vet and submit applications for TETFund Research grant through the Vice-chancellor.
9. To coordinate the administration of scholarships and grants for staff training and development

Intellectual Property Unit

1. To facilitate the creation of new techniques, technologies, products, new businesses and generating licenses and consultancy emanating from the University’s original research projects.
2. To develop the capacity of researchers/research groups in IP generating researches.
3. Facilitate patenting/licensing of intellectual property right.
4. To act as liaising office between the University and the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO).
5. Advises and receives reports of inventions.
6. Performs due diligence review on new invention disclosures.
7. To organize periodic exhibition of Research output from the University.

Innovations, Technology Incubation and Commercialization Unit

1. To identify researches and projects across the University that demonstrate clear commercial or social value.
2. To stimulate technology incubation of new inventions in collaboration with Centre for Entrepreneurship.
3. To identify potential users (inventors, industry, government and entrepreneurs) of University’s research outputs with the aim of knowledge transfer/sharing.
4. To provide technical and logistic support in the thematic and non-thematic research areas to generate Intellectual Property (IPs) rights.
5. To provide incentives and challenges to the Colleges, Departments, Units and Centres to generate IPs from their original research works and showcase all the IPs so generated locally and internationally.
6. To create a stock of commercially viable knowledge-based product for the University.
7. To attract contract research between the University and corporations, governments and others.

Linkages and Partnerships Unit

1. Develops concrete links and agreements with external partners aligned with research innovations.
2. Identifies new collaboration opportunities for FUNAAB academics.
3. Connects FUNAAB students, researchers and professors to national, regional and international partners/donors.
4. To enhance the University Research Visibility and its position in the global knowledge production/supply-chain networks.
5. To coordinate all partnerships and/or MoUs entered into with other institutions, organizations and individuals.
6. Serve as a one-stop-shop for information, logistics, funding and support for all partnerships and networks nationally, regionally and internationally.
7. Ensure the execution of the deliverables and effective implementation of terms of all linkages, partnerships and externally generated funding.
8. Identify mutually beneficial partnerships and ensure the sustainability of existing networks.
9. To continually follow-up on all partnerships and ensure that they are mutually beneficial.