Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
Tertiary institutions have been urged to prioritise the translation of student innovations and prototypes into market-ready goods and services that can drive local industry and economic growth, a Cabinet Minister has stated.
Speaking at the Msasa Industrial Technical Centre graduation ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Fredrick Shava, represented by his Deputy, Simelisizwe Sibanda, emphasized that this focus aligns with President Mnangagwa’s declaration of 2025 as the Year of Commercialisation of Innovation Outputs.
Ambassador Shava said the declaration highlights the urgent need for institutions to shift from knowledge generation to knowledge application and monetisation.
“Msasa Industrial Training College and similar institutions must now prioritise the translation of student innovations and prototypes into market-ready goods and services that can spur local industry and economic activity,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, particularly among girls, as a key pathway towards a digital and industrialised economy.
Ambassador Shava stressed that rural industrialisation remains central to this agenda, ensuring development reaches all parts of the country, with vocational institutions anchoring community-based manufacturing and production.
Ambassador Shava further highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to support young people in nation-building by scaling up assistance for graduate-driven business start-ups through incubation, mentorship, and seed funding opportunities. This multi-pronged approach aims to foster a generation that is not only employable but also self-sufficient and wealth-creating.
He acknowledged potential challenges graduates may face in launching their businesses but encouraged them to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset to unlock innovation and creativity, thereby creating new ventures and driving economic development.
“The Ministry is encouraging you, graduates, to come together and form consortia. These will initially be managed through your institution until we are satisfied that you can run the business on your own,” said Ambassador Shava.
