SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO – The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has launched its first-ever innovation hub which was commissioned by President Mnangagwa during the higher learning institution’s 17th graduation ceremony last week.
The Innovation hub, dubbed “Centre for Creative Thinking” had its foundation laid on 16 October 2020. It is a vehicle for social transformation through the translation of research and innovation into goods and services The Midweek Watch has learnt.
GZU Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo said the innovation hub has already registered nine trademarks with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) in beverages, health supplements and skin care products.
“We are pleased to announce that we have since registered nine trademarks with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) the trademarks are in beverages, health supplements and skin care products and the other six have been filed for registration and await certification”, said Prof Zvobgo.
“Staff and students in the Innovation Hub have also developed other products including chilli sauce, wezhira wine, jiri jam, herbal mahewu and nyanda spice. The mass production of these products will create employment, avail affordable products and improve the nutritional status of our people”.
Prof Zvobgo went on to mention that the institution has embarked on several agro-innovations that are at varying stages of development and some of the products include organic fertilizers, poultry feed and fish pellets and these are being produced from local heritage-based solutions such as sugar cane filter, cake mixtures and they are originally from indigenous grains like sorghum and cowpeas.
President Mnangagwa applauded the institution for the new initiatiave and thereby called upon the private sector and development agencies to partner with the university to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of inventions from the innovators.
“I thereby call upon the private sector and development agencies to partner with the university to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of inventions from the innovators,” said Mnangagwa.
“I am pleased with the progress being made with regards to an ever-increasing number of inventions, patents and trademarks, throughout our institutions of higher education and I challenge GZU to move quickly to patent and commercialize the innovations from the institutions”.
