Stakeholders in Africa’s innovation landscape have raised concern over the continent’s inability to convert research outputs into market value, warning that the gap continues to limit economic growth and technological advancement.

The concern was expressed on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference ahead of the AfricaX Summit 2026, to be hosted by the African University of Science and Technology (AUST).

President of AUST, Azikiwe Onwualu, said despite the abundance of talent, institutions and resources across the continent, Africa still struggles to translate research into practical solutions that can drive industry and development.

He noted that Nigeria alone has over 300 higher institutions and a similar number of research centres, yet has not been able to build a system where innovations are easily commercialised.

“What we have done so far is like scratching the surface. We need to move from research to innovation, and from innovation to goods and services,” he said.

Onwualu attributed the challenge to structural gaps that make it difficult for researchers and innovators to scale their ideas into viable businesses.

According to him, the overreliance on imported technologies has further weakened local capacity and discouraged the development of homegrown solutions.

“Almost everything we use or consume is imported. That is why our development is not sustainable,” he added.

He said the upcoming summit is designed to address this disconnect by bringing together innovators, investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers to foster collaboration and unlock opportunities for scaling innovations.

The AUST president stressed that the initiative goes beyond discussions, as organisers are focused on identifying practical solutions that can be supported to reach the market.

“Our aim is to move beyond talk and ensure that ideas are implemented and transformed into products and services that solve real problems,” he said.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Kingsley Ogwudu, described the situation as urgent, noting that Africa must take deliberate steps to reverse the trend.

He said the continent’s youthful population presents a unique opportunity to drive innovation, but warned that without the right structure, talent will continue to leave in search of better opportunities.

“We want to move from brain drain to brain gain by creating the infrastructure where African talents can thrive and build globally competitive solutions,” he said.

Ogwudu explained that the summit will focus on key pillars such as innovation ecosystems, investment and finance, youth and women empowerment, and public-private partnerships.

He said the event would serve as a bridge between African research and global capital, enabling innovators to scale their ideas and compete internationally.

“This is not just another conference. It is a platform to connect ideas with investment and drive real impact,” he added.

Stakeholders at the briefing stressed that bridging the gap between research and market value will require sustained investment, policy reforms and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The summit is expected to attract participants from across Africa and beyond, with organisers confident that it will drive partnerships capable of transforming ideas into tangible economic outcomes