By Diana N.Kintu
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has launched the 38th Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), in a move aimed at strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection and promoting research-driven innovation in the country.
The newly established Centre forms part of the global Technology and Innovation Support Centre programme coordinated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which seeks to enhance access to technological knowledge and intellectual property services for researchers and innovators worldwide.
According to URSB, the facility will provide researchers, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs with access to patent information, scientific and technical databases, intellectual property advisory services, as well as specialised capacity-building programmes. The initiative is expected to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial application by enabling innovators to protect and market their discoveries.
By hosting the Centre at UVRI, one of Uganda’s leading medical and scientific research institutions, URSB aims to support the transformation of laboratory research into protected innovations that can be developed into market-ready products and technologies. The TISC will offer services including technology searches, patent analytics, intellectual property strategy development, and guidance on patent filing and commercialisation pathways.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior government officials and researchers, including Dr Samuel Okware, Director General of the Uganda National Health Research Organisation, and Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, Director of UVRI.
Speaking at the event, Dr Okware described the establishment of the Centre as a significant milestone for Uganda’s research ecosystem. He noted that improved access to global patent and scientific databases would enable researchers to benchmark their work internationally while minimising duplication of research efforts.
“This Centre is a transformative milestone that will serve as a benchmarking hub for researchers. It will reduce duplication of research and enhance access to global patent and scientific databases,” he said.
Representing the Registrar General, URSB Commissioner Ambrose Ekaju emphasised that the initiative aligns with government priorities under Uganda Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV, both of which identify science, technology and innovation as critical drivers of socio-economic transformation.
He explained that strengthening intellectual property systems within research institutions is essential for ensuring that innovations developed by Ugandan scientists are adequately protected and commercially exploited for national development.
Professor Kaleebu welcomed the partnership between URSB and UVRI, noting that structured intellectual property support would help place innovation protection and commercialisation at the centre of the Institute’s research agenda. He added that the Centre would empower scientists to translate research findings into practical solutions capable of addressing public health challenges while contributing to economic growth.
URSB officials said the establishment of the 38th TISC further strengthens Uganda’s national innovation framework by embedding intellectual property services directly within research institutions. The approach is intended to create a supportive environment where researchers can easily access global knowledge resources while safeguarding their inventions.
The Bureau noted that expanding the TISC network across the country demonstrates Uganda’s growing commitment to building a resilient, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and technology. Through such initiatives, researchers and innovators are expected to gain the tools needed to protect their ideas, attract investment, and develop solutions to both local and global challenges.
The launch marks another step towards positioning intellectual property as a key catalyst for research commercialisation, industrial growth and sustainable socio-economic development in Uganda.