By Ife Osemedua
The House of Representatives will today, March 18, 2021, host a public hearing on the ‘Innovation Bill’.
The Bill which seeks to establish an agency to manage the National Innovation Ecosystem for Nigeria, was sponsored by Hon. Chris Emeka Azubogu.
Azubogu represents Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives.
The Bill, with the code, House Bill (HB) number 872, is titled, “A Bill for an Act to provide for Establishment and Management of a National Innovation Agency for the Facilitation of Development, Improvements, Promotion, Coordination, Exploitation, Commercialisation and Regulations of Research Outputs, Discoveries, Innovations, and Inventions, to Enrich Research and Innovation in the Economic System; and for Related Matters.”
The agency’s proposed functions include, to “provide guidance and advisories to government, research and educational institutions, business communities, organised private sector, and other stakeholders on any matters relating to or affecting the commercial application of research and innovation products, scientific knowledge, or technology.”
Its main duty, according to the bill, will be to protect, exploit and ensure commercial application of intellectual property and other products derived from research and improvements in Scientific Knowledge.
Intellectual Property, as listed in the Bill, includes copyright, patent, trademark, integrated circuit layout design, geographical indication, and industrial design whether registered or otherwise and manifested or stored in any form whatsoever.
National Innovation Eco-System, is defined in the Bill as “the diverse nature of participants and resources including organisations, institutions, and people in the country that coexist and function as a unit which is necessary for innovations.”
The Bill went further to list under Innovation, “any idea or knowledge in whatever form which brings about changes in the form of product, service, or process resulting in a positive impact to the economy, business, public service delivery system, social well-being, or the environment;
“The application in practice of creative new ideas, as well as the processes by which new products, businesses, and services enter the market;
“A product, process, service, or idea which is novel;
“Improved use of a new product, service, or method in the industry, business, or society”, among other provisions.