BRIDGING RESEARCH-INDUSTRY DIVIDE IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE ENTERPRISES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

• A D Dada

This paper investigates the gaps between research institutions and industry in R&D collaboration towards the promotion of innovation, creativity and competitiveness among food and beverage enterprises (FBEs) in Nigeria. This was measured by the level impact of R&D institutional support services for technological innovations in the industry.  A multi-staged sampling method was adopted to select 150 registered FBEs from three small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) populated States in Southwestern Nigeria with a response rate of 64% recorded.  Adopting model regression analysis, the study showed that the contributions of R&D institutions to innovative performance of the industry was low (R² = 0.008). However, training and information dissemination (β=36.49, P≤ 0.05) and provision of analytical services (β = 36.67, P≤ 0.05) were found to have significant impact on the innovative performance of the industry. No significant difference (F=0.336, P≤ 0.05) between the two methods of support services was confirmed in the study. The study concludes that the R&D support services from research institutions to FBEs were inadequate. Policy intervention is needed to encourage R&D institutions to adequately support the food and beverage industry in Nigeria.

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