Varsities innovation hubs near completion

The establishment of innovation hubs in universities across the country is now 80 percent complete, a cabinet minister has said.

The update comes as government has made it policy that institutions of higher learning become hubs for some innovative ideas with the introduction of innovation hubs.

“On equipping innovation hubs at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), the Midlands State University (MSU), the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), and the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Cabinet noted that the process of procuring equipment for all the innovation hubs has been initiated, bringing overall progress on the project to 80 percent.

“Regarding application of new cattle reproductive technologies, Cabinet noted that the establishment of artificial insemination centres in the provinces is ongoing, while the production of semen straw labelling and filler machines for local use and for export has commenced at Chinhoyi University Technology,” Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.

As part of the 100 cycle priority projects, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Amon Murwira told cabinet his ministry intends to establish of the Zimbabwe National Geo-Spatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) offices; develop maps and interactive digital applications for the Agro-Ecological Zones of Zimbabwe; and release of funds to procure wildlife satellite collars by the Research Council of Zimbabwe.

The National Geospatial and Space Agency was established to contribute to areas including agriculture, disease surveillance and infrastructure management among others. The programs are said to rope in universities through innovation hubs and teachers will be capacitated to run science laboratories in the country.