The Research-to-Commercialisation TOOLKIT: A Practical Guide to Strengthening Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem

Africa is rich in knowledge production and innovation potential. Yet, a persistent gap remains between research outputs, innovation, and the realisation of market readiness. Reimagining commercialisation means moving beyond traditional models to embrace collaboration, inclusivity, and context-driven strategies tailored to Africa’s unique innovation landscape.

Research-to-commercialisation (R2C) is the process of converting research findings, inventions, or innovations into marketable products, services, or business solutions. It involves translating research-based ideas into practical applications that deliver economic and societal value by identifying commercial potential, protecting intellectual property, and developing strategies to bring innovations to market.

This toolkit was developed to bridge that gap by providing practical guidance for transforming research into commercially viable solutions. It empowers ecosystem actors—researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, academia, policymakers, and investors—with tools and strategies to accelerate commercialisation, scale innovations, and strengthen Africa’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Grounded in evidence and stakeholder insights, the toolkit introduces a Four-Stage Framework supported by key principles: collaboration, systemic support, contextual relevance, and evidence-based practice. It was developed through a three-step process: (1) reviewing African literature on research commercialisation, (2) analysing impact stories and documentation from RISA Fund–supported programmes in six countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa), and (3) validating findings with key ecosystem stakeholders.

The proposed Four-Stage Research-to-Commercialisation Framework provides ecosystem actors with practical steps to identify commercial potential and design effective strategies for transforming research and innovation into market-ready solutions. It supports scaling, financing decisions, and broader commercialisation efforts across Africa’s research and innovation ecosystem.

The RISA Fund is funded by UK International Development from the UK government. This content is produced in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.