Centre for Applied Research and Technology

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Centre for Applied Research and Technology

• Establishing the
• Centre for Applied Research and Technology (CART)
  
• at the
• Polytechnic of Namibia

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Background

• The Polytechnic has made great strides in the
  past seven years
• Qualifications increased 23 in 1996 to 60 in
  2002
• Student numbers at rate exceeding 10 per annum
• Institution is enjoying increased public and
  private support
• Regarded as Namibias leading institution in
  applied science and technology as key vehicle in
  human resources development and in moving the
  country towards achieving national long-term
  Vision 2030.
• In the SADC region, the Polytechnic is now an
  institution of note

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Background (cont)

• Faculty and student involvement in applied
  research in cooperation with business and
  industry and communities has grown slowly but
  steadily.
• This research resulted in enhanced productivity
  in business and industry and increased food
  production in rural communities.
• These successes were coupled by increased
  pressure from beneficiaries and communities on
  the Polytechnic to enhance its research and
  consultation activities

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Peter F Drucker

• The comparative advantage that now counts is
  the application of knowledge This means that
  developing countries can no longer expect to base
  their development on low wages. They, too, must
  learn to base it on applying knowledge.

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Statement of Need

• One of the aims of the governments economic
  policy Develop human resource capacities as
  well as physical and economic infrastructure, and
  through the combination, a national capacity to
  innovate, research, create more knowledge to
  reinforce our national development goals and
  development programs.

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CART meeting PON Mission

• CART as a vehicle to meet the
• Polytechnics higher education mission for
  applied research,
• development of new knowledge,
• stimulation of innovation and entrepreneurial
  spirit
• and to foster enhanced productivity.

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CART facilitates

• The structure facilitates
• faculty research and the use of educational,
  laboratory and technology resources
• to create new knowledge and deeper understanding
• for the Namibian professional and industrial
  communities

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CARTs Purpose

• While CART will harness research and advance
  knowledge within specific disciplines, specific
  emphasis will be given to the support of
  innovation and the creation of an enabling
  environment for Namibians and Non-Namibians to
  participate in research and economic development.
  

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Creation of an Enabling Environment

• The identification and utilization of resources
• Initiating and developing research at feasibility
  and implementation stages of projects that were
  identified as viable to broaden the local
  industry base
• Technology assistance with product adaptation,
  training, technical collaboration and
  implementation

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CART Structure and Operation

• The structure and operation of CART must take
  into consideration the unique characteristics of
  Namibia
• It should recognize and utilize the current
  strengths of Namibia while at the same time
  address the current challenges of the country
• However, CART must also be able to anticipate the
  emerging trends and opportunities

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Need to Foster Cooperation

• Tertiary institutions capable of performing
  research PON and UNAM
• Teachers and Vocational college(limited research
  capabilities)
• Namibian-controlled research centres (including
  those attached to the ministries like MME and
  Fisheries)
• Non-Namibian controlled institutes (such as
  those sponsored by the UN and other governments,
  and private foundations)
• What is lacking is a mechanism for fostering
  cooperation between research organizations and
  focussing their work to meet the needs of Namibia

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THE VISION

• CARTs
• internal vision is to
• become the pre-eminent organisation
• for Applied Research and Technology
• in Namibia
• in support of
• the external vision to
• change Namibia to a developed country

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THE MISSION

• The mission of CART is
• to contribute
• to the sustainable development
• through the support
• and promotion
• of applied research and technology

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THE OBJECTIVES

• The functions of CART can be separated into those
  that deal with applied research and those that
  deal with the application of technology.
• In the area of applied research, the objective is
  to strengthen the Namibian ability to adapt,
  optimize and develop new technology to meet the
  needs of Namibia.
• In the area of application of technology, the
  objective is to strengthen the Namibian ability
  to implement, in a sustainable fashion,
  technological solutions for the peoples benefit.

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CART Service Provider

• To achieve these objectives, CART will provide a
  service to the research community of Polytechnic
  and Namibia.

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Services and Aims

• Provide research facilities for the research
  community and constituents
• Provide and seek seed funding for start-up of
  applied research projects
• Seek nationally and internationally for new
  projects or product development opportunities
• Provide training for researchers and constituents
• Provide an infrastructure for the development of
  technology through applied research

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Services and Aims (cont)

• Provide guidance and technical advisory services
  for applied researchers and developers of new
  technology
• Provide information on new development and
  research opportunities
• Co-ordinate applied research and development of
  new technology projects, executed by Polytechnic
  researchers and other research constituents and
  or industry

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Specific Aim 1

• Build the Internal Research Capacity of the PON

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More About SA1

• Determine PON areas of expertise ? map against
  the focus areas of Namibia.
• For some of these focus areas PON has existing
  capacity in expertise, while in others, PON
  currently lacks capacity.
• The present capacity of PON lies in the fields of
  engineering, information technology, agriculture
  and nature conservation. Current applied research
  and development activities are thus predominantly
  in these fields
• Build capacity in the areas where PON lacks
• Strengthen capacity in the areas of existing
  expertise

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Specific Aim 2

• Build the External Research Capacity through the
  Coordination / Promotion / Guiding of Research

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More About SA2

• Building of a national, coordinated capacity.
• The coordination of applied research and
  development of new technology projects performed
  by research constituents nationally and
  internationally
• The promotion of cooperative applied research
  projects between PON and other research
  constituents.

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The Research Constituents

• PON Researchers
• Industry
• The Namibian Government and Ministries
• Rural Stakeholders
• Other Tertiary Institutions
• Other Research Centres
• Sponsors

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CART as Research Broker

• CART will initially act as a research broker,
  scouting nationally and internationally for new
  projects or product development opportunities,
  provide information on new development and
  research opportunities seek and provide seed
  funding for start-up of applied research projects
• In the execution of applied research, CARTs aim
  is to
• provide research facilities for the research
  community and constituents,
• provide an infrastructure for the development of
  technology through applied research,
• provide guidance and technical advisory services
  for applied researchers and developers of new
  technology.

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Specific Aim 3

• Provide Technological Support for Namibian
  Industry

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More About SA3

• In the optimum implementation and adaptation of
  existing technology or the developing of new
  technology, CARTs aim is to provide
  technological research support as well as
  providing guidance and technical advisory
  services for developers of new technology and
  entrepreneurial businesses to do so.
•  Although CART will provide support and
  assistance to all sectors of the Namibian
  Industry, special emphasis will be given to SMEs
  in support of the broad based and sustainable
  development of Namibia

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Activities for First Year

• Establishing an infrastructure to organize, drive
  and coordinate applied research and development
  activities
• Set-up CART Office
• Establish Steering Committee

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CART Office

• The CART office will comprise a CART director to
  lead and drive the initiative as well as support
  personnel to assist the director.
• These support personnel will comprise
  secretarial/administrative staff, database
  programming and management staff as well as
  marketing and PRO staff.
• The director and secretarial/administrative staff
  appointments will be full time, where as the
  other could be part time or on a consultative
  basis.
• The office will operate under the auspices of the
  Rector of Polytechnic.

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Steering Committee

• The director will establish a steering committee
  from the research constituents. This steering
  committee will strategically supervise CART and
  the establishment of capacity in specific focus
  areas

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Activities for First Year (cont)

• Identify Focus Areas
• Complete a capacity survey to identify
  Polytechnic and other Namibian Institutions
  areas of expertise
• Conduct workshops, conferences and meetings with
  stakeholders to identify focus areas of Namibia
• Map Polytechnic areas of expertise and Namibian
  focus areas to identify gaps and decide on CART
  focus areas.
• Identify areas in which contract researchers must
  to be sought

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Activities for First Year (cont1)

• Organise training and information sessions for
  Polytechnic researchers and other research
  constituents
• Identify training and information needs of
  researchers
• Contract expertise to conduct training and
  workshops to address the needs

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Activities for First Year (cont2)

• Conduct a technology dissemination workshop
• Identify existing pilot areas of existing PON
  expertise that can be extended to and
  implemented in the Namibian Industry
• Conduct workshop to initiate extension services
  in these pilot areas.

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Activities for First Year (cont3)

• Establishing a network of research constituents
  and sponsors for cooperation
• Identify research constituents and activities in
  and outside Polytechnic
• Foster partnerships with other research and
  development constituents
• Compile an active database with information on
  activities, contact and areas for possible
  cooperation

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Activities for First Year (cont4)

• Establishing a database for new opportunities of
  applied research and development
• Subscribe to research opportunities lists
• Hold meetings with research and development
  constituents nationally and internationally to
  identify new opportunities
• Compile an active database with information
  regarding these opportunities

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Activities for First Year (cont5)

• Establishing a database of sponsors
• Execute a study of current and possible new
  sponsors of research and development activities
• Establish contact and partnerships with these
  sponsors
• Compile an active database with information
  regarding these sponsors and the areas in which
  sponsorships are available
• Foster partnerships with identified possible
  sponsors

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Activities for First Year (cont6)

• Create an awareness of CART and its activities
  amongst stakeholders
• Compile and distribute information brochures
• Design and establish a CART website

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Activities for First Year (cont7)

• Seek and find seed funding and award, according
  to procedures, funds to the first round of new
  projects
• Set-up procedures for the applying and awarding
  of start-up funding to promising projects in
  defined focus areas
• Give first round of awards

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Activities for First Year (cont8)

• Establish and co-ordinate peer-review groups in
  identified focus areas
• Scout and develop peer-review communities in
  identified focus areas of research and technology
• Develop database containing information on
  researchers involved nationally and
  internationally in these focus areas
• Co-ordinate peer-review and facilitate
  publication of research and development outcomes

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Outcomes for The First Year

• The CART office will be established
• A Steering committee will be selected and
  established
• Information regards to research activities,
  research constituents and sponsors of research
  and development activities will be established
  and available in database format to research
  constituents

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Outcomes for The First Year (cont)

• Partnerships and cooperation agreements will be
  established with other research constituents,
  other researchers, developers and sponsors
• The research capacity of Polytechnic and other
  Namibian Institutions will be established through
  a survey
• Focus areas of CART will be identified and
  published

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Outcomes for The First Year (cont1)

• Training workshops will be held to strengthen the
  capabilities of Polytechnic and Namibian
  researchers
• Technology dissemination workshop to initiate
  extension services in pilot areas
• A website, hosting information about CART and
  links to the various databases, will be running

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Outcomes for The First Year (cont2)

• A short list of new research and development
  opportunities will be published
• The first round of funds for new projects will be
  awarded

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Meanwhile

• Interim Steering Committee
• The Rector, Dr Tjama Tjivikua
• The Vice-Rector, Dr Gert Günzel
• The Registrar, Mr. Cornelius Jafta
• Chairperson of R3E Board and Exec, Dr Roland
  Lösch
• PIR Director, Ms Neavera Olivier
• CART Project Leader, Ms Margaret van der Merwe

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Interim Action Plan

• Budget
• Compile a detailed budget
• Get budget approval and allocation
• Director and administrator
• Defining of profiles
• Advertising
• Appointing

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Interim Action Plan (cont)

• CART information material
• PowerPoint presentation
• Detailed document
• Brochure
• CART Information sessions
• Senate
• During recess
• BOSs
• CART office facilities

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Conclusion

• CARTs main purpose is to enhance development in
  Namibia through the implementation of technology
  supported by applied research in order to ensure
  sustainability.
• The success of CART will primarily depend on the
  commitment from PON management, the participation
  of staff as well as the leadership of its
  director
• During the first year of CART, an extensive
  strategic plan needs to be developed

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Finally What can CART do for you?

• Making it easier to concentrate your efforts on
  research and development
• How?
• Making it easier to get involved in research
• Assistance to execute auxiliary activities
  around research, i.e. reporting, publication,
  peer-review, quality assurance, etc.
• Making it easier to find funds
• Co-ordinate and focus research activities

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What can you do for CART?

• GET INVOLVED
• COMMENTS AND INPUTS
• SHARE
• ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN NEEDED

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Thank You, Questions?