Campus News
By Tabonga Gijimah
The Midlands State University Research and Innovation Expo 2026 is officially underway at the MSU Main Campus Multi-Purpose Hall in Gweru, with researchers, students, exhibitors, government officials and industry stakeholders gathered for the opening ceremony.
The three-day expo, running from 28 to 30 September, is being held under the theme “From Knowledge to Impact: Advancing Research, Innovation and Industrialisation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.”
The official opening was attended by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Midlands, Owen Ncube, alongside Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, who delivered the keynote address.
After engaging university students at the beginning of her address, Minister Mavetera focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence in driving industrialisation, challenging universities, government and industry to build partnerships that turn research into practical and affordable solutions.
She said AI should help researchers identify patterns, analyse images, understand demand and determine which experiments to conduct next, while stressing the need for skills, infrastructure, responsible adoption and relevant local datasets.
“AI will contribute to industrialisation when we organise our institutions to turn research into reliable solutions that people can afford, businesses can adopt and services can sustain,” she said.
MSU Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Muzvidziwa and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Industrialisation Professor Mugumbati also highlighted the university’s focus on moving from knowledge generation to tangible products, commercialisation and national impact.
The expo features research exhibitions, innovations and engagements aimed at strengthening government, university and industry collaboration, with participation from MSU students and staff, government officials and representatives from other universities, including Chinhoyi University of Technology.
The three-day expo, running from 28 to 30 September, is being held under the theme “From Knowledge to Impact: Advancing Research, Innovation and Industrialisation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.”
The official opening was attended by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Midlands, Owen Ncube, alongside Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, who delivered the keynote address.
After engaging university students at the beginning of her address, Minister Mavetera focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence in driving industrialisation, challenging universities, government and industry to build partnerships that turn research into practical and affordable solutions.
She said AI should help researchers identify patterns, analyse images, understand demand and determine which experiments to conduct next, while stressing the need for skills, infrastructure, responsible adoption and relevant local datasets.
“AI will contribute to industrialisation when we organise our institutions to turn research into reliable solutions that people can afford, businesses can adopt and services can sustain,” she said.
MSU Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Muzvidziwa and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Industrialisation Professor Mugumbati also highlighted the university’s focus on moving from knowledge generation to tangible products, commercialisation and national impact.
The expo features research exhibitions, innovations and engagements aimed at strengthening government, university and industry collaboration, with participation from MSU students and staff, government officials and representatives from other universities, including Chinhoyi University of Technology.
Published
September 28, 2026 at 5:04 PM
