Bahir Dar University held a workshop aimed at strengthening research and innovation infrastructure

Bahir Dar University, October 31/2026

Organized by the Research and Community Engagement Office of the university a workshop was held at the Wisdom Hall aimed at strengthening the research and innovation infrastructure, increasing the capacity of researchers and sharing experiences that will help in sustainable development and building a better future.

In the workshop, issues were discussed to improve the research and innovation infrastructure, to identify and solve the challenges that researchers may face in their work, and to further increase the university's capacity in the field of research.

Bahir Dar University's Corporate Director of Research Affairs, Prof. Netsanet Fantahun, said that the workshop mainly aims to strengthen the infrastructure that helps researchers in their research work, to identify challenges in the research and innovation sector and to have an in-depth discussion on the directions that can lead to solutions.

As the professor explained, at a time when Bahir Dar University is expanding its role as a research-intensive institution and transitioning to autonomy, it is one of the key tasks expected to enable researchers to develop their professional capabilities and present their research results in a way that will benefit society.

He added that the workshop primarily aims to raise awareness of the preparations the University needs to make in response to international developments in research and innovation, the expectations placed on researchers, and how researchers can better showcase their professional expertise and research outputs while addressing the challenges they encounter in their respective fields.

Two research papers were presented and discussed in the workshop. From Jimma University, Prof. Delenasaw Yewhalaw presented a research paper entitled "Improving Research and as a means for sustainable development and Resilient future in Ethiopia".

Similarly, Dr. Hailu Kendie from the Harare Research Center presented a research paper titled "Persistent Identifiers as Research Infrustructure: Bridging Publishers, Contributoers, Institutions and Funders." Following the presentation, productive experience sharing and knowledge exchange was held involving both the presenters and the participants. 

The discussion also created an opportunity to strengthen the research infrastructure, to increase the accessibility and usability of research findings, and to find resources to improve the research and innovation capacity of the university.

In general, the participants of the workshop stated that the workshop was a platform that provided valuable resources to increase participants’ capacity in the field of research and innovation, to prepare researchers for their responsibilities and to strengthen their contribution to sustainable development.