Assessing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Researchers in Nigeria

Abstract: The external context plays a vital role for the promotion of entrepreneurship especially in entrepreneurial universities. The study therefore deploys a mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative) approach to understand the role that innovation and entrepreneurship infrastructure plays in facilitating the development and commercialization of research outputs from the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Faculties in a university in Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered on sixty lecturers/researchers across these six faculties (Science, Engineering, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Pharmacy and Agriculture) which had 85% response rate. Eleven follow-up interviews were carried out in four Faculties. While field observation was carried out in four research and innovation facilities (the university’s central science laboratory, central technical workshop and the intellectual property & technology transfer office). An Incubation Centre located outside but near the university was also visited. Based on the information collected, the study provided strategic implications for policymaking, practice and theory

Knowledge Production on Fourth Industrial Revolution in the ECOWAS Region in Africa : A Scientometric Analysis

Abstract: Please refer to full text for abstrac

A longitudinal assessment of Nigeria’s research output for evidence based science policy development

Abstract: The study measured the trend of science and technology research output and investigated the pattern/breath of collaboration among actors of Nigeria’s research and development system. Based on the results obtained, it considered its implications for science policy development. The study purposively selected the 148 Science and Technology Journals out of the 221 Journals queried over a 5-year assessment period from 2012 to 2016 to elicit metrical data from the publications. Data harvested was analyzed using percentages, relative growth rate and doubling time on a year-wise basis from 2012 to 2016, to identify the positive or negative growth trend of research outputs. VOS viewer was further used to examine the pattern of collaboration. The analysis from the study provided information on the extent of research that has been carried out in the various thematic areas in Nigeria’s new Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy

Open development and scaling-up of clustered enterprises in Nigeria’s informal sector

Abstract: The study outlined how the microenterprises overcome numerous challenges common to startup through “open development” characterized by collective sharing of knowledge, tools, equipment and workforce amongst competing microenterprises. Also, by belonging to trade/professional associations that ensure that knowledge becomes a public good that can be accessed by everyone who needs it. The study also found out that majority of the microenterprises experienced scaling-up within few months to around three years from inception, while only a few scaled up only after three years. This paper shows strong positive relationship between variables capturing open development activities (internal training programmes within enterprise, knowledge acquisition from competitors within the cluster, intra-family learning and training, open innovations) and incidence of scale-up. Incidence of scale-up was captured using significant increase in the size of the enterprise, capital base, business activity or turnover or gross sales relative to start up. The study concluded that clustering of small businesses in Africa facilitates open development which the papers shows to be a potential avenue to overcoming the popular financial constraints commonly associated with small firms and can be an enabler of industry growth

Node between firm’s knowledge-intensive activities and their propensity to innovate : insights from Nigeria’s Mining Industry

Abstract: While studies have examined the nexus between knowledge and innovative performance, literatures from developing country context are very scant. The study thus examines which knowledge-intensive activities influence the propensity of the mining firms in Nigeria to implement either product innovation, process innovation or both kinds of innovations. The study explored 106 purposively selected mining firms in Nigeria to check the effect of knowledge on the prevalence of innovation in the industry. Using a of questionnaire administered to the chief executive officers/most senior managers of the firms, the study identified six main knowledge indicators for the mining industry which were regressed against indicators of technological innovations. The study found out that while R&D activities were important for product innovation, acquisition of machinery, equipment, hardware or software were the principal drivers of process innovation. The knowledge-based activities common to both innovation types were acquisition of external knowledge/technologies, learning, knowledge exchange & training as well as other activities like feasibility study, market research, continuous improvement, business process re-engineering, tooling-up, routine software upgrade, amongst others. The study concludes that certain knowledge-intensive activities were important for different kinds of innovations in the firms

Factors influencing business start-ups based on academic research

Abstract: The importance of commercializing research outputs by science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) researchers for technological advancement and socio-economic development cannot be overemphasized. This study thus investigates the factors that motivate researchers in the STEAM field to startup businesses based on their research. A multistage sampling method was used to draw a sample of 201 researchers, consisting of lecturers and students from a top-ranking university in Nigeria. The study used a set questionnaire to elicit information on factors that influence the decision of STEAM researchers to spin off business start-ups from their research. Principal Component Analysis and Binary Logistic Regression were used to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables. The findings revealed that the important driver of academic spin-off for the STEAM researchers was the level of risk tolerance. It was evident that risk-taking had a strong relationship with quality research and business start-up

R&D productivity for science, technology and innovation policy development in Nigeria : a scientometric analysis of academic literature

Abstract: The study purposively selected the 148 Science and Engineering Journals out of the 221 Journals registered on the African Journal Online (AJOL) directory. Data harvested was analyzed on a year-wise basis from 2012 to 2016, to identify the positive or negative growth trend of research outputs. The open source software “Publish or Perish” was used to query metrical data for the purposively selected journals by accessing the Google scholar database over the internet. Data was obtained to determine the degree of Collaboration based on the 19 thematic areas as identified in the Nigerian science, technology and innovation (STI) Policy document. It was further examined by measuring the Authorship Pattern and Co-Authorship Index (CAI). The analysis from the study provided information on the productivity of research that has been carried out in the various thematic areas in the Nigerian Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy. It also provided information on the nature and extent of collaboration for research among the actors of the research and development system. It thus also served as a reference tool for policymakers to reviewing science, technology and innovation policy in Nigeria

Firm-Level Innovation In Africa: Overcoming Limits and Constraints

International audienc

Are African micro- and small enterprises misunderstood? Unpacking the relationship between work organisation, capability development and innovation

International audienc

Are African micro and small enterprises misunderstood? Unpacking the relationship between work organisation, capability development and innovation

International audienc