Addis Ababa, 16 January 2016 (WIC) – National Science and Technology Innovation Council (NSTIC) expressed its keenness to work diligently to integrate the industry with universities in the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II).
The Chairman of the Council Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen emphasized that the council is intensively working to back the country’s effort to transform its economic structure from Agriculture led to Industry.
He added that integrating universities and educational institutions with the industry is one of the key steps in realizing the second GTP II as it helps to fasten the transfer of knowledge and technology as well as enhance innovation.
The commitment of the Ethiopian government in prioritizing science and technology and persuading in this regard could be taken as a driving force and an enabling opportunity to meet the second GTP target.
He also noted that it is decisive to identify and determine the roles of development execution offices to fill the gaps that may arise opposed to technological transfer needs.
Science and Technology Minister Abiy Ahmed on his part said that universities and industries are integrated; there will be a fragmentation of use of new knowledge and research outcomes from higher education in manufacturing and services enterprises.
In the first chapter of GTP, the government hunted to build capacities of identifying, searching, selecting, making use of and adapting effective technologies necessary for national growth.
Endorsing the five year action plans of the council and discussing on the grand challenges of Ethiopian projects to set solutions were main agendas of the council.
National Science and technology innovation council was established in November 2013, Walta learnt.