Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Ambassador Dr Frederick Shava said, Universities must move beyond research and prototypes and translate innovations into commercial products and services that address Zimbabwe’s socioeconomic challenges.
Making the remarks at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) 2025 Annual Report at a high-level meeting in Harare recently said institutions of higher and tertiary education have a critical role to play in transforming Zimbabwe’s abundant natural resources and intellectual capacity into practical solutions capable of improving citizens’ livelihoods.
“Universities must actively transform innovations into tangible goods and services for the direct benefit of Zimbabwean citizens,” Dr Shava said.
He said the country’s universities should ensure that research outcomes progressed beyond laboratories and prototypes to products and services that could be produced at scale and respond to real economic and social needs.
“Move with tenacity from mere research and prototypes to the practical reality of commercialisation.
HIT has earned significant institutional recognition through its alignment of academic programmes, research and innovation with the developmental milestones outlined under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy,” Dr Shava added.
He challenged the institution to build on this progress by strengthening the link between academic innovation and industrial application.
“Zimbabwe faced a critical dichotomy between its socioeconomic challenges and the abundance of natural resources available to the country, requiring universities to play a more active role in closing the gap through innovation,” he said.
Shava singled out HIT’s tram system project as an example of the type of home-grown innovation that could contribute to solving national challenges.
“HIT’s Tram system project must be fully developed and scaled to revolutionise public transport across the country.
The project demonstrated the potential of domestic academic innovation to provide solutions to complex national demands while reducing reliance on externally developed technologies,” he added.
The call comes as Government continues to promote Education 5.0, which places emphasis on teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation.
