Building Intellectual Property Capacity for Innovation at Muni University

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, held an Intellectual Property Dissemination Workshop at Muni University under the UJ-Connect Project. The session aimed to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property in transforming research and innovation into viable commercial products.

The workshop brought together representatives from URSB, JICA, and academia to discuss how universities can integrate IP education into their research processes and innovation ecosystems.

In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Muni University emphasized the importance of community engagement and inclusive growth through innovation. He noted that the university is making progress in strengthening its research and innovation capacity, citing the introduction of a Master’s program in Artificial Intelligence under the Faculty of Technical Science.

“We are finalizing our IP policy as a university. When the Ministry reached out, it came at the right time as we are receiving valuable technical expertise,” he said.

He also highlighted that without IP protection, the knowledge and innovations generated by researchers remain vulnerable. Through its Incubation Centre and Central Production User Facility, Muni University is working to ensure that research outputs evolve into market-ready products with strong IP potential, achieving a full value chain of innovation.

Speaking on behalf of JICA, Mr. Shimpei explained that the UJ-Connect Project was designed to tackle unemployment challenges by promoting the growth of Uganda’s ICT industry. The collaboration with the Ministry focuses on four key pillars: policy support, human resource development, business matching, and entrepreneurship support.

Similar IP dissemination workshops have already been conducted at Kabale, Gulu, and Lira Universities, reflecting a national effort to strengthen the innovation landscape in higher education institutions.

Representatives from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) encouraged participants to view intellectual property as a key driver of the knowledge economy, one that transforms ideas into employment opportunities. They also highlighted URSB’s services, including business registration, insolvency, and security interests, and noted that copyright registration in Uganda is affordable, costing as little as UGX 50,000.

“We often prioritize fame and forget about IP, yet protection is what gives our ideas long-term value,” they noted.

Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance shared that 70% of research originates from Innovation Hubs, emphasizing the need for innovators to prioritize value addition and market relevance in their work.

Alternative to the statement above, Intellectual Property Specialist Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe from the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance noted that 70% of research originates from Innovation Hubs, emphasizing the need for innovators to prioritize value addition and market relevance in their work.

“Be smart when making your proposals. Think about how your idea contributes to the economy,” she advised.

The session concluded with insights from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), whose representative encouraged participants not to fear scaling their ideas, emphasizing that “it is never hard to scale” when the right IP structures and partnerships are in place.

The workshop at Muni University highlighted the shared commitment of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and JICA to support universities in building the skills and systems needed to protect and grow research ideas into commercially viable innovations.