About The School

The Directorate of Research, Postgraduate Studies and Outreach is headed by Dr Alfred Maluwa. The directorate was established to coordinate research by both faculty and students, mobilize resources through research
grants application and management, coordinate postgraduate studies and technology transfer. It has the Centre of Innovation and Industrial Research (CIIR), which conducts industrial research, promotes innovation, and produces different technologies for sale to the general public.

A technology transfer office has also been established to promote the creation, protection and commercialization of intellectual property developed by staff, students and collaborators at MUST.

The CIIR, formerly Industrial Research Centre aims to advance science, technology and innovation (STI) through quality research, capacity development, application and commercialisation of outputs. CIIR drives STI, enhances knowledge and skills to conduct and disseminate innovative initiatives (capacity building, research, consultancy, outreach, and policy contribution) for transformative industrialization and commercialization in tandem with national, regional and global development goals.

CIIR  specific strategic objectives are:

SO-1: To build the capacity of Malawians to create, apply and scale innovations that use science and technology to address economic challenges

SO-2: To champion transformative agro-industrial research, business and skills development in food and nutrition engineering

SO-3: To accelerate translation of scientific and innovative ideas into new products, services and technologies in areas of focus

SO-4: To drive and support commercialisation of technologies and services for transformative industrialisation

CIIR is championing the implementation of the MUST Innovation Programme that creates (i) the University Technology and Innovation Garage (ii) Community Innovation Support Programme (iii) Junior Talent and Innovation Programme and (iv) Innovative Growth Industries.

It focuses on conducting innovative and industrial research, technology development and transfer and works hand in hand with academic departments within and outside the University in line with MUST’s vision which is to be a world class centre of science and technology education, research and entrepreneurship. Its capacity building programmes  are implemented through the MUST Innovation Academy.

Current CIIR programmes include (i) MUST Innovation Scholar Programme funded by USAID (ii) MUST Innovation Capacity Building Programme funded by Smoke Free World Foundation and (iii) Africa Drone and Data Academy funded by UNICEF.

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