A business and innovation incubator was inaugurated on Sunday, 11 October, at the Universidade Adventista de Moçambique in the city of Beira, Sofala province. The facility is designed to support students, lecturers and researchers in transforming academic projects and entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses, through training, mentorship and access to technological resources.

The initiative seeks to bring scientific research closer to the needs of the market and local communities, encouraging the creation of companies and the development of solutions with practical application.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Secretary of State for Science and Higher Education, Edson Macuácua, called for greater coordination between the government, higher education institutions and the private sector, describing such cooperation as essential to stimulating innovation and economic development.

According to the official, the incubator will allow students and researchers to apply knowledge acquired in classrooms and laboratories, supporting the creation of startups and companies arising from research projects. To that end, the facility will offer specialised guidance, management training, and physical and digital infrastructure for the development of business initiatives.

Edson Macuácua argued that higher education institutions must play a more active role in industrialisation, digital transformation and the sustainable development of Mozambique.

Among the priorities outlined for the new incubator, he highlighted the promotion of employability, entrepreneurship grounded in ethical principles, and a closer alignment between academic training and the demands of the labour market.

The Secretary of State urged lecturers to take on a mentorship role, encouraging applied research and the development of solutions to concrete problems.

To students, he recommended using the space to test ideas, gain experience and develop projects with commercial potential.

He also challenged companies and private partners to establish cooperative relationships with the university, particularly through identifying challenges in areas such as logistics, management and technology that could be addressed through innovation projects.

The new incubator aims to contribute to the creation of business opportunities and the development of entrepreneurial skills, strengthening the link between higher education and economic activity.