Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SSETS)
Session abstract / Description
Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists (SSETS) is a practical and interactive capacity-building workshop designed to strengthen the ability of academics, researchers, and scientists to translate scholarly work into societal, economic, and national development impact. The session responds to a persistent challenge in Malaysia's higher education ecosystem: the limited integration between academic research, industry needs, and broader innovation priorities.
The workshop will guide participants in developing stronger capabilities in international networking, global partnership models, research impact pathways, industry engagement, resource mobilisation, and entrepreneurial thinking. It will also highlight how academics can align institutional structures and operations with Malaysia's internationalisation agenda, including the activation and operationalisation of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
By bridging academia, research, industry, government, and community, SSETS aims to help participants design more impactful research, diversify funding streams, improve graduate employability, and explore commercial or entrepreneurial opportunities across the quadruple helix.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand global partnership models and strategies for mobilising resources for impactful research and collaborative programmes.
- Strengthen entrepreneurial thinking and design research with clearer societal and economic impact pathways.
- Identify ways to align institutional structures, MoUs, and internationalisation efforts with practical outcomes.
- Explore models that bridge academia, research, industry, government, and community to enhance innovation, funding diversification, and graduate employability.
- Recognise commercial and entrepreneurial opportunities that can be pursued individually or with quadruple-helix partners.
Pre-session preparation
Participants are encouraged to reflect on their current research, possible impact pathways, existing or potential partnerships, and any MoUs or collaborations they wish to activate or strengthen.
The Speaker(s)
Dr Akanimo Odon
Dr Akanimo Odon holds a master’s degree in environmental Rehabilitation, a PhD in Environmental Management from Lancaster University, UK and business and enterprise certifications and fellowships from Cambridge University UK, Stanford University USA, and MIT USA. He has been Africa Strategy Adviser for Aberystwyth University, University of Strathclyde; University of East Anglia; and currently he is the African Regional Adviser for the University of London, and the Africa director for Zurich Elite Business School Switzerland. Currently, is the Head of Africa Strategic Partnerships for Lancaster University UK.
He is Founder of Flexy-Learn International a one-stop shop for distance learning provision for Africa. He is also Principal Consultant of Envirofly Consulting UK, a resident company at Lancaster University. He is also Chair of the African Union Scientific Research and Innovation Council (UK) and sits on several international boards including the largest and most reputable Think-Tank organization in Africa, the Africa Technology Policy Studies Network, ATPS, headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Currently, he also works as a consultant to ODS Projects and Corporate Services Limited.
In the UK, he has been an Adviser to the British Government on developing international education policies under the National Student Forum; Education Consultant for British Council; Business Development Consultant for the Grow Creative Scheme under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); Local Content Consultant to City and Guilds UK; and Local Content Adviser to BG Group. In Africa, he has been Strategy Consultant for the National Centre for Energy and Environment under the Energy Commission of the Presidency, Nigeria; Non-Resident Research Fellow of the African Centre for Technological Studies, Kenya; Adviser for Africa Centre for Energy Policy in Ghana; Consultant for Trust Africa Senegal, reviewing capacity building policies in Nigeria, Mali, Bostwana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gabon and Egypt; Adviser to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Tanzania; Local Content Consultant to the African Development Bank Ivory Coast; and also consulted for the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas on capacity building.
In the last seven years, Dr Odon has won in excess of 45 million pounds in international research grants for multiple projects and he is the creator of the globally successful UK CPD Accredited International Grantsmanship and Resource Mobilisation Programme (IGRM) and the International Career Coaching Programme (for students and staff of universities and working professionals).
In the last ten years, Odon has organized and facilitated over 50 Africa-focused international workshops and conferences; liaised and collaborated with government, industries and academia in over 30 African countries; developed over 100 strategic educational, research and commercial partnerships between UK and African organizations; facilitated and supported the setting up of over 30 African-focused SMEs; designed and implemented over 40 strategic capacity building and knowledge transfer schemes and programmes; delivered innovative research impact and management training to over three thousand early young researchers and academics.
