Uganda has taken another step toward building a knowledge-driven economy with the official launch of the 38th Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
The new centre is part of the global TISC programme coordinated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The initiative is designed to strengthen intellectual property (IP) systems by providing researchers and innovators access to global patent databases, scientific publications, and professional IP advisory services.
With the establishment of the TISC at UVRI, URSB is positioning one of leading health research institutions to move beyond scientific discovery and into commercial innovation.
The centre will support researchers with patent searches, technology analysis, IP strategy development, patent filing guidance, and commercialisation planning.
“This centre will serve as a benchmarking and learning hub for our researchers. It will improve access to global knowledge resources and strengthen Uganda’s ability to innovate competitively,” said Dr Samuel Okware, Director General of the Uganda National Health Research Organisation.
The launch ceremony attracted senior leaders in the research and health sectors, including Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, Director of UVRI.
Representing the Registrar General, URSB Commissioner for Finance and Administration Ambrose Ekaju emphasized that the launch reflects URSB’s long-term strategy to embed IP services directly within research institutions.
He noted that the initiative aligns with Uganda’s national development priorities outlined in Uganda Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV, both of which identify science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of economic transformation.
“Research should not end in laboratories or academic papers. It must translate into protected innovations that create jobs, generate income, and contribute to national development,” Ekaju said.
Prof. Kaleebu welcomed the partnership, noting that UVRI has long conducted high-impact research, particularly in infectious diseases and public health.
He said structured IP support will now ensure that patents and commercialisation become central to the institute’s research strategy.
The TISC will also provide training and capacity-building programmes for scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs, helping them understand how to protect their ideas and navigate the intellectual property system effectively.
By expanding the TISC network to 38 centres nationwide, URSB is steadily strengthening Uganda’s innovation infrastructure, embedding IP services within research institutions to empower scientists to protect their discoveries and compete in global markets.
The launch of the TISC at UVRI represents a strategic shift toward an economy where knowledge, innovation, and intellectual property are treated as national assets.
As Uganda pushes to become a middle-income, technology-driven economy, initiatives like this demonstrate a commitment to turning research into practical solutions that address local and global challenges.