Public-Private Partnerships in Research Translation
- Dr. Edmund Ukwuru
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
Tackling significant challenges requires collaboration across sectors. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) merge government resources, academic innovation, and industry efficiency. If you envision your research making a real-world impact, forming connections across these sectors can be your best strategy. PPPs are more than financial tools; they are pathways to scalability.
The Problem
Too often, researchers work in isolation, and solutions stay stuck in pilot mode. Even when governments have the budget and companies have the infrastructure, research isn’t reaching the public.
Why? Because partnerships are rare—or poorly structured.
Universities often don’t know how to partner with corporations. NGOs may lack access to credible data. Government ministries don’t see academic research in a usable format. And private investors see “research” as slow and academic.
Without alignment, no one moves. But when these actors collaborate, research can fly—from concept to commercial product to public service.
The Possibility
A prime example of a successful PPP is Zipline, the pioneering drone delivery service born out of a university project in Ghana. This initiative began with collaboration between a U.S. startup, Ghana’s Ministry of Health, and several research labs. As a result, Zipline transformed into a lifesaving logistics network, delivering blood, vaccines, and essential medicines within minutes to rural communities. To date, Zipline has completed over 300,000 deliveries, significantly improving health outcomes.
Another success story is M-PESA, which launched as research focused on enhancing financial inclusion. Supported by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), M-PESA gained traction through the telecommunications company Safaricom and ongoing input from field researchers. Now, this platform serves over 51 million users, offering millions of people in Africa greater financial access and security.
When academia, government, and business unite, they set the stage for impactful research that can scale significantly.
The Solution
The Translational Research Forum provides a roadmap for building successful PPPs.
Join sessions like:
🏛 “Designing Public-Private Partnerships that Work”
📈 “What Each Sector Brings to the Table”
📋 “Legal and Strategic Tools for Cross-Sector Collaboration”
You’ll gain:
Real-world case studies of PPPs that drove impact
Templates for partnership agreements and IP sharing
Strategies for engaging government ministries, donors, and business leaders
You’ll also hear from researchers who’ve navigated cross-sector challenges—and turned collaborations into long-term success.
Call to Action
Don’t build alone. Build across.
👉 [Register today for the Translational Research Forum] and discover how public-private partnerships can take your research from pilot to national program—or product.
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