Innovation Transfer Practice Among Universities and Research Institutes. A Panacea for Entrepreneur Development.

Abstract

The study examine the innovation transfer practice among universities and research institutes in north central zone of Nigeria, examined socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, identify specific areas of innovation transfer practice, compare innovation transfer practices among ARI’s and Universities and identify constraining factors hindering innovation transfer practices. One hundred and sixty academic staff and research scientists were randomly selected from Universities and research institutes respectively giving a total of three hundred and twenty (320) respondents. Validated questionnaires with reliability coefficient of r=0.92 was used to elicit data. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, likert-scale, T-test and Factor analysis. Major areas where the Universities and research institutes form strong linkages for innovation transfer were categorizing farmers according to needs (x ̅=3.57) and disseminating innovation through farmers’ existing communication channels (x ̅=3.56). Universities differed from research institute in areas of conducting short in-house staff training t=6.11;P<0.05) and Knowledge of rural dynamics t=10.78;P<0.05). Factors constraining transfer of innovation by respondents for entrepreneur development are top down decision making procedure (agein value= 0.801) and Limited ICT facilities (agein value=0.796). It was recommended that decision making process should be demand driven so that the interest of young entrepreneur would be taken in to cognizant for innovative stride.