THE University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) hosted it’s eighth Research, Technology and Innovation Day last Thursday to showcase various research initiatives being undertaken by faculty and staff.

“We are very proud [of] a number of significant initiatives in research that are on display today,” said acting president Professor Colin Gyles.

Professor Gyles gave examples of research conducted by the institution: the use of ackee as a pharmaceutical base, healthy eating, innovations in roofing to give homes a cooler atmosphere, and the use of solar energy to produce hydrogen as an alternative fuel to propane and petroleum based fuels.

Focusing on the theme ‘Cross-Institutional Collaboration for Advancing the National Research and Innovation Agenda’, Dr Cliff Riley, Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) said that advancing research and innovation is a venture that requires “partnership, strategic planning, vision and financing”.

He rued, however, that there is no central financing system to assist with research projects. Another challenge he identified was what he described as the constant misconception about the role that science, technology and innovation should play in national development and the realisation of the country’s Vision 2030 plan.

“There are many persons who believe tourism, agriculture or commerce should be the core of it. Interestingly, however, we fail to realise that these industries are anchored and are dependent on research and innovation,” Dr Riley said.

“Oftentimes we look at research as the bastard child; we look at innovation as the bastard child, not including it as the core of national development,” he continued.

Dr Riley also urged scientists to stop “publishing for publishing sake”, or patent work solely in the name of owning a patent. Research, he said, must impact the lives of people and is worthless otherwise.

“They must reach the people they were intended to reach. They should not be placed on shelves like a trophy or a grand prize,” he argued.

According to Professor Gyles, UTech’s faculties excel at research through collaborations in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), as they “seek to build a strong culture to support national development”

The event was coordinated by the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship and featured exhibitions and speakers forums on various topics.