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Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) for Sustainable Industrial

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Volume-5, Issue-5, October-2015

International Journal of Engineering and Management Research
Page Number: 379-388

Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) for Sustainable

Industrial and Economic Development
C. C. Ihueze1, C. C. Okpala2, E. C. Okafor3, U. C. Okonkwo4
1,2,3,4
Department of Industrial/Production Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT I. INTRODUCTION
In this paper the critical nature of science,
technology and innovations were established. The In relating science and technology to sustainable
fundamental and unique roles for sustainable industrial and
industrial and economic development, one can say without
economic development were also discussed. The complex and
multifaceted innovation systems and their interactive any fear of contradiction that technology is the language of
network (i.e. actors and linkages) were related. As regards the present and science is its grammar. Therefore, only
what triggers off innovation, clear cases of recent those who can speak the language will be relevant in this
development evolving as a result of negative technological century and those who are not, will be swept into the dust
responses like the challenge of carbon emission triggering off bin of history. Indeed, the heart of the long run industrial
the development of eco friendly products were used to drive and economic development is technology and innovations,
home the point. The paper then brought it home by while the heart of technology and innovations is science.
addressing the state of science and technological innovation in In this regard, countries design national policies in order to
Nigeria, stating reasons for poor state of science and
develop science-technology-innovation synergy for their
technological innovations. Having identified the problems, the
paper proffered solutions on the way forward with special economic roadmap, leading to sustainable industrial and
focus on Nigeria. A coherent national policy guideline that is economic development.
properly coordinated, sound educational system with It is important to establish a common
adequate infrastructure, focusing on areas of comparative understanding of the key terms of the title of this paper.
advantage, collaboration between industry and academia, According to Popper (2002), Science is derived from a
among others were advocated. Finally, a call of state of Latin word “Scientia” meaning “Knowledge.” It is defined
emergency was made to emphasize the urgency of the matter. as the systematic study of nature, of the material and
physical universe, based on observation, experimentation,
and measurement, as well as the formulation of laws to
Keywords: science, technology, innovation, knowledge, explain these facts in general terms. It is the study of
sustainable, Nigeria, education, engineering, development, knowledge which can be made into a system, and usually
economy. depends on seeing and testing facts and stating general
laws. From the word science comes scientists, the curious
seeker of answers to the unknown in a methodical and
orderly manner. Figure 1 depicts the branches and
hierarchy of science.

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Figure 1: The Branches and Hierarchy of Science Source: Wikipedia

Technology on the other hand refers to the body enterprise, which is propelled by scientific discovery or by
of organized knowledge, tools and machines, used by man societal needs. No doubt, our needs are many, and we must
to manipulate his environment for his general good. It be propelled by the same measure. Technology can be
involves the adoption of scientific knowledge or inventions traced historically to the beginning of time to be man’s
to develop and produce goods and services useful to man, quest to improve his way and quality of life. Figure 2
thereby solving everyday problems or facilitating tedious portrays the relationship between science, technology, and
human activities. It is a practical problem solving the society.

Figure 2: The Relationship between Science, Technology, and the Society.

According to the BusinessGov (2013) innovation requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing market
generally refers to changing or creating more effective needs.
processes, products and ideas that can increase the Lange (2013), pointed out that innovations are
likelihood of a business succeeding. This could mean such changes in production functions, in the schedules
implementing new ideas, creating dynamic products or indicating the relation between the input of factors of
improving existing services. Innovation can be viewed as production and the output of products, which make it
the application of better solutions that meet new possible for a firm to increase the discounted value of the
maximum effective profit obtainable under given market

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condition. As regards classification, Blaug (1997), listed Sener and Saridogan (2011) observed that
two classifications of innovation - process and product knowledge and technology have become increasingly
innovations. He explained that the distinction is to some complex, raising the importance of links between firms
extent an artificial one, as the introduction of a cost- and other organisations as a way to acquire specialised
reducing process is sometimes accompanied by a change knowledge. Technological innovation is therefore the
in the product mix, while new products frequently require process through which new (or improved) technologies are
the development of new equipment. In practice the two are developed and brought into widespread use; it is usually
usually so interwoven that any distinction between them is associated with product and process innovation. The role
arbitrary. Buttressing it further, Morck and Yeung (2000), of science and technology ultimately rubs off on the
explained that efforts have been made to define and industrial and economic development of any nation or
classify the dimensions of innovation, as the positive people. Indeed, they have a chain reaction as depicted in
connotation of innovation, as a valuable improvement, is figure 3.
itself a new idea. This neatly illustrates the ambiguity that
underlies the role of innovation in the society.

Figure 3: The Link of Science, Technology Innovation on Industrial and Economic Development

Evidence suggests that those countries that are innovations play pivotal roles in the development of
able to steer Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) nations. However, to be effective and relevant, science and
processes towards knowledge-based economies enjoy technological innovations must be carried out in such a
more economic growth and prosperity than those who do way that it promotes sustainable development.
not. In addition, ST&I may also contribute to social and Crespi (2004), reviewed the most relevant
ecological dimensions of development through providing determinants of technological innovation. He explained
solutions for specific problems and by enhancing a that what has emerged is that innovation is a complex and
knowledge base for self-determined development. multifaceted phenomenon and that a large amount of
factors tends to influence it. This large consensus is
II. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL enlightened by the importance attributed to public
INNOVATIONS intervention in promoting innovation and technological
change at a policy level. However, to increase scientific
Science and Technological innovations play a research and development spending is not sufficient.
fundamental role in wealth creation, improvement of the Therefore, an effective sustainable innovation derives from
quality of life and real economic growth and a set of policies oriented at designing a proper environment
transformation in any society. The dichotomy of the world for innovative activities both at a national and at a local
along two economic poles, of developed and developing is level. From the first point of view, it has been underlined
mostly linked to the level of science and technology for example the importance of patents, market structure,
sophistication. This implies that science and technological

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human capital and demand considerations in determining fact, Okonkwo (2013) noted that engineers have been
the pace of innovation. prepared by training to be creative. They have a mindset
According to Sener and Sarıdogan (2011), there are many that enables creativity to thrive. They have developed their
factors and actors triggering technology and innovation in abilities of perception, understanding, logic and thinking
the economy. As could be observed from figure 4, style to the extent that they can be very creative as their
innovation is an engine of economic growth and national products all over the world testify. For this reason, it is
welfare which results from firms, individuals, universities, very important to design a national innovation system to
state-supported researches and the efforts of the civil provide an environment for economic agents to create and
society. It is pertinent to mention that engineering to produce new technologies and innovations.
profession is the piston of this engine. In buttressing this

Figure 4. Sources of Innovation as a System Source: Schilling (2008)

Figure 5 shows the national innovation systems emerged from an agrarian economy in the 19th century into
affecting the development of science technology and an industrial superpower in the 20th century. More
innovation. In the system, there is a supportive and recently, Taiwan and Korea have exploited advances in
interactive network to provide innovative environment for silicon micro-electronics from the early 1960’s. China and
economic agents in not only the micro and macro India have emerged as industrial leaders in manufacturing
economies, but also national and global level. It is very and information technology respectively. Malaysia has
important market conditions, institutional and structural followed in the footsteps of these later Asian successes.
conditions to produce technology and innovations resulting It is to be noted that in the recorded achievements,
in competitiveness of the country. all these countries invested heavily in people, factories and
Egboga (2012), observed that the United infrastructure that provided the foundation for today’s
Kingdom and France benefited immensely from the industries. These successes were all based on carefully
industrial revolution. He pointed out that the United States designed roadmaps of plans and strategies.

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Figure 5. Actors and Linkages in the Innovation System, Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) (1999).

Unfortunately, however in many if not all the amplified by increased use of science and technology
non-developed/“yet to-develop” countries, technology is associated with information technology and improved
seen or viewed as a consumable item, and not something distribution/marketing networks. Therefore, the need for
that can be produced or created. Essentially, technological countries with the intention to grow, to invest significantly
innovation is the primary engine of economic growth. It is in science and technological innovations cannot be over-
the key and fundamental requirement for value addition to emphasized. This is achieved by developing the talent, the
raw materials and people. It provides the key to unlocking human capacity required to compete in a globally
any country’s potential in terms of decreasing overhead competitive world of today.
costs associated with outsourcing and creating Through this application, scientific
employment opportunities. Common examples include the knowledgeable professionals have been able to invent
following: equipment and machines being used in industries and even
Basic needs arena (food, clean water, improved in our homes, in addition to this, science and technological
public health, shelter etc). Analysis of technologically innovations has helped in easing stress brought by the
advanced economies shows that at each level of the movement of goods and people from one place to another,
economy, science and technological innovations provide by inventing better transportation approaches like
the engine for economic growth. For example, in the case automobiles, aircrafts and so on.
of primary products, application of science and According to Daniel (2012), “science and
technological innovation significantly increases the yield technological innovations has helped in the area of
from agricultural production and mineral beneficiation. medicine.” He explained that some natural herbs converted
Similarly, new and existing industries do to drugs with the aid of modern equipment, and these
stimulate economic growth at the intermediate level, while drugs are used in our hospitals and pharmacies. Moreover,
the overall volume of activity at the tertiary level is rural communities are transformed to urban

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settlements through science and technology. This is Looking at the relatively recent development of the hybrid
made possible through the availability of electricity, pipe- engines that harness solar power and batteries (for cars,
borne water, good roads, schools, hospitals and other and more-recently for ocean liners and ships) one can see
social amenities. clearly the innovative response to the challenges of carbon
For any successful economy, particularly in emission and exclusive reliance on fossil fuels like diesel
today’s quest for knowledge based economies, science, and petrol. Considering the technological advances in the
technology and engineering are the basic requisites. If ICT sector, a recent World Bank study shows that the
nations do not implement science and technological invention and usage of mobile phones and broadband
innovations, then the chances of getting themselves internet is strongly associated with economic growth: a 10
developed becomes minimal and thus could be even rated percent increase in mobile phone coverage and high-speed
as an undeveloped nation. Science and Technological internet connections will increase GDP by 0.8 percent and
innovation is associated in all means with modernity and it 1.3 percent on average, respectively.
is an essential tool for rapid development. Science, Technology and Innovation also play a
Modernization in every aspect of life is the key role in improving the quality of life. For instance,
greatest example of the implementation of science and research in healthcare has proven vital to the prevention,
technology in every nation. With the introduction of diagnosis and treatment of various killer diseases. Youth
modern gadgets in every walk of life, life has become unemployment has been steering the country on the face
simple and this is possible only because of implementing but could be curbed if Science, Technology and Innovation
science, technology and innovation together. Without are harnessed to develop a critical mass of skilled
having modern equipment in all sectors, be it in medicine, manpower that will be the catalyst for job creation. This is
infrastructure, aviation, electricity, information technology because as the world has become a global village, there has
or any other field, the advancement and benefits that we been an increasing need to strengthen and reinvigorate
enjoy today would not have been possible. science, technology and innovation as vital instruments for
job creation especially in the developing countries.
III. THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND In the education sector, particularly higher
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS FOR education, there is an emerging paradigm shift in the world
today. The recent onset of powerful technologies,
INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC including cloud computing and precise online assessment
DEVELOPMENT regimes enabled the launch of a number of top-tier
university entrants into what is being called the Massively
Understanding technological innovation is vital Open Online Course (MOOC) marketplace.
for marketers for several reasons. According to Kubacki In a nutshell, developing countries cannot hope to
(2014), Technological change is perhaps the most prosper in an increasingly competitive global economy and
powerful engine of growth. It fuels the growth of new open trading system if they do not build the appropriate
brands (e.g., Gillette’s Mach 3), creates new growth science and technology capacity to produce more value-
markets (e.g., digital video recorders), and transforms added goods and services. In fact, it can confidently be
small outsiders (e.g., Intel) into market leaders. said that science and technological innovation is the
Science, Technology and Innovation has a very dividing line between developed nations and less
unique side to it. It is intrinsically linked to most, if not all, developed ones.
sectors of an economy, so naturally, economic The State of Science and Technological Innovation in
development should be the result of advancing Science and Nigeria
Technology. Perhaps nothing sums up the importance of Nigeria is making some contributions to the
science and technology better than this quote by British development of Science and Technology, but we are
Physicist, Stephen Hawking – “The world has changed far underperforming, relative to our abundant human capital.
more in the past 100 years than in any century in history. Just two examples will suffice: Quoting the NEPAD’s
The reason is not political or economic but technological – African Innovation Outlook, Okonjo-Iweala (2012) opined
technologies that flowed directly from advances in basic that “South Africa produced over 86,000 scientific papers
science…” – about 37 percent of the total research output of 19
Recent analysis shows that economic growth over African countries surveyed between 1990 and 2009; Egypt
the period 1950 to 2010 is indebted to the innovations, and produced nearly 60,000 – about 27 percent of output.
productivity gains arising from technological Nigeria produced 27,743 papers (or 12 percent of the
advancements. Advances in Science and Technology can total output) – about one-third of South Africa’s output.”
help to diversify the economy, by improving productivity Similarly, South Africa was able to secure more than 1,000
in various sectors while defining new ones. patents in 2010 alone, according to data obtained from the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);

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whereas, Nigeria secured only 18 patents in the last 8 These essential realizations explain why visionary and
years. This is unbelievably low. innovative leaders always strive to evolve strategic
Reasons for the Poor State of Nigeria’s Science and roadmaps and practical policies aimed at launching as well
Technological Innovations as keeping their nations on the world's science and
In the new world trend, natural resources technology map. Unfortunately, Nigeria has continued to
endowments is not enough for wealth creation but the watch and wonder helplessly from the sideline, and in
knowledge of how these raw materials can through most cases, found itself crawling and slipping away while
Science and Technology, be transformed into valuable other nations solidify their footings and race on the fast
goods and services for economic development and lane towards technological development and advancement.
improved quality of life. Due to the country’s inability to look inwards, challenge
Firstly, we need a better and more coherent itself, act rightly and proactively, it has found itself at the
national strategy, as the sector remains highly fragmented, mercy of other nations, and have now been forced to rely
lacking effective coordination. The quality of our heavily on them to provide for it even those basic
education system is also a problem. Our education system necessities of life which it ought to provide for the citizens,
has deteriorated to a point where students cannot acquire neglecting both the long term economic and national
the necessary skills they need to become employable or security implications. It is quite difficult to overstate the
innovative in an ever-changing world, upon graduation. need for a reversal of this ugly trend if Nigeria is serious in
Higher institutions are plagued with inadequate Science creating the required technological and manufacturing base
and Technology facilities and materials for practical skills needed to jump-start its economy and put its idle, able-
development. Many laboratories lack the basic equipment bodied and willing to work citizens to work.
for thorough scientific research. Nigeria is churning out It must be pointed out that no nation in history
thousands of science and technology graduates each year, has ever attained scientific and technological development
but several of them are under-employed, going into serendipitously or by tacitly running an economy that
banking and other non-scientific sectors. coerces its first grade science and engineering graduates,
Also, poor relationship and unhealthy rivalry who would have made excellent careers in science and
between industries and higher institutions (research engineering research, into becoming chartered accountants
institutions inclusive) is a major hindrance to attaining a and chartered bankers as it is the case in Nigeria today - a
remarkable milestone in the development of our nation serious system flaw, an unsustainable and frightening
through science and technological innovations. Olorunfemi scenario. Nations have only climbed up the science and
et al. (2012) complained of a missing link between the technology ladder by investing conscious efforts and
institutions and industries as a result of lack of appropriate resources backed up by smartly crafted policy guidelines.
practical skill acquisition in engineering training. A fundamental need for development of science and
Okonkwo et al. (2013) added another dimension to the technological innovations for national development is to
possible course of this missing link when he submitted establish a sound educational system. This educational
thus: The joy of engineering courses as compared with system must be anchored on a sound philosophical
other pure science courses is its applied nature. However, foundation that encourages partnership for exchange of
most of the engineering courses in Nigerian are taken just people, ideas, and support facilities. The universities and
like any other science course without relating how they can research institutes in Nigeria should enhance their
be applied in practice. This is probably because some of relevance to society through the development of
our industries are importation-based. In other words, many partnerships with the local community, industry and
so called industries in Nigeria are just assembly plants in national research facilities. Educational institutions should
which case all design processes and manufacture are done be open to meet the needs of the local industries, people
outside the country and the parts imported for assemble. and environment, while updating their research
programmes and activities to meet and satisfy the practical
IV. THE WAY FORWARD needs of the society.
Local research and development should be as
Policy makers at all levels in Nigeria need to be selective as possible so as to avoid mismanagement of
keenly aware that few countries can achieve development scarce resources. However, these linkages should not be
goals of economic diversification, food security, made to be limited nationally, but should extend to include
improving health systems, cleaner energy, generating regional and international elements. These actions will go
wealth and jobs, and reducing absolute poverty, without a long way to enhance educational expertise both for
the scientific, engineering, and technical capacity to handle instructions and for the students. Research and
these challenges. development should be coupled with the nation’s
educational goals and our universities to promote and
strengthen national economies. The emergence of stronger

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economies will in several ways contribute through universities, and as such, no serious research goes on in
educational exchange programmes, partnerships and them. This is simply unacceptable and in contrast with
linkages to an equally stronger regional economy. most developing, less endowed and smaller nations. A
To promote sustainable science and technological functional and well-equipped national laboratory serves as
innovations in Nigeria, the most important and strategic a brainstorming and research hub for scientists and
thing to do is to employ education and educational engineers as well as a training center for up-coming
institutions as vital tools towards this goal. This is scientists. It also serves as an invaluable partner to the
anchored on the logic that, the sustained prosperity of a universities since it would encourage research
nation depends upon the level and quality of its education collaborations and also afford university teachers and
system. students possible access to more expensive and
Education as it has been argued empowers sophisticated equipment that may be unavailable in the
individuals and maximizes national intellectual resources university laboratories.
in order to sustain social and economic progress for the Such a center automatically helps in bridging the
benefit of all. It is on the basis of this that I advocate for gap between industry and science graduates by affording
the effective utilization of education and educational them the opportunity of carrying out real-life researches as
institutions for the attainment of sustainable development well as working with even industrial researchers that use
through science and technology research. This approach the center, in the course of their undergraduate and
will broaden the scope of science and technological graduate studies. More importantly, it would in no small
innovations as it will bring about scientific and means help in lending credibility to our educational system
technological literacy among the citizenry. This however, because of its ability to spur serious researches and
should be based on a philosophy of education that will research publications by our researchers/university
promote science and technology. teachers and students in world-class peer reviewed
The current situation where science teaching and journals.
learning ranging from the elementary level to the Ukah (2009), pointed out that “putting in place
university level are handled as an exercise in the abstract coordinated science and technology policies as well as
due to inadequately prepared teachers and lack of basic providing the requisite infrastructures and conducive
infrastructures is extremely unhelpful. These results in our environment, have the natural effect of not only reducing
educational system producing science graduates with brain-drain, but also serve as a necessary vehicle for luring
shaky foundations and skills that are completely foreign-based Nigerian scientists and engineers home.” He
disconnected from industrial realities, and as a result, are explained that the approach has worked for countries like
unable to make any meaningful contribution to our efforts China, Singapore and South Korea etc, and would
at technological breakthrough. In the Faculty of definitely work for Nigeria. In the course of interactions
Engineering in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, with the help with Nigerians in Europe and America, particularly the
of the Vice Chancellor and grant by the Federal scientists, and recognizing the decency and hardworking
Government, we are currently equipping our Laboratories spirit of Nigerians, their unity in common challenges and
and Workshops in order to arrest the ugly situation. common hopes as well as their pride in seeing our nation
A reversal of our present technological succeed, it is without doubt that most foreign-based
misfortunes rests largely on our government. One of the Nigerian scientists would be willing to spend some time in
simplest take-off points is to look at functional models put such a center at least in the form of guest/visiting scientists
in place by the developed nations such as United States, as a way of chipping in to our nation's quest for
which have been successfully replicated by most technological development.
developing countries. The government should prioritize Most Asian scientists in European and American
science and technology education by setting up a universities hold parallel positions in such research centers
functional and pragmatic agency - a Nigerian version of and universities in their native countries, and spend a
the U.S. National Science Foundation, which encourages sizeable chunk of their time there. Such platforms for
and motivates researchers and students through effective collaborations will succeed in establishing a profound link
coordination and provision of research funds. These between home-based and foreign-based scientists and
research grants are imperative in the acquisition of needed promote effective sharing of ideas and information.
equipment and recruitment of top-flight manpower. A Call for a State of Emergency for Science and
It is strange, disheartening and smacks of lack of Technological Innovation
focus when one realizes that after decades of raking in tons The role of science and technology as shown
of petro-dollars, an oil-rich and big country like Nigeria in figure 6 has a very unique side to it. They are
cannot boast of a single functional modern science intrinsically linked to most, if not all the sectors of an
research centre or a National laboratory. Needless to say economy. If science and technology innovations are
that there exist no equipped and modern laboratory in our healthy, then industrial and economic development will be

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healthy, if they are sick it will reflect on the industrial and showcase on our industrial and economic development.
economic development, if they are dead, it will also

Figure 6: The role of Science and Technological Innovations

On this note therefore, the reality on ground in  Considering that the promise of a stable power
Nigeria as far as science and technology innovation are supply to our people will continue to be a political
concerned is hereby x-rayed: campaign ritual as long as we keep importing not
 Considering the fact that we cannot afford to only the power transformers, but the spare parts
simply watch and wait on our luck to shine us out as well;
of our present science and technology hole;  Considering that our cities will continue to be
 Considering that our economy will remain overwhelmed by wastes and waste management
primitive and vulnerable to the slightest as long as we continue to lack the technology
downward shift in the price of crude oil as long as needed for efficient waste recycling,
we continue to lack the technological base Then, an immediate state of emergency should be
necessary for robust and sustainable industrial declared on this critical sector of our national economy and
and economic development; security. We must not turn the page on this bitter reality
 Considering that our country cannot be accorded staring us right in the face; rather, we must pick up
its due respect as long as it continues to take a ourselves, dust off ourselves, tap into our better angels,
back seat in science and technology; bring to the fore that irrepressible Nigerian spirit, and
 Considering that our unemployment and crime prove once more that we are not as unfocused and
rates will continue to be in double digits as long visionless as our politics and policies might suggest.
as we continue to lack the technical know-how In the first instance, there is a need for an over-
required for a guaranteed and sustainable reaching national strategy for science and technology and
industrial and economic developmental; innovation: a strategy that will restructure our Science and
 Considering that our national economy and Technology sector for greater coordination,
security will continue to be endangered as long as communication, and policy harmonisation.
we keep relying on foreign expertise to build our Secondly, given the government’s limited resources,
refineries and even explore our natural resources; the chances of increasing allocation to the Science and
 Considering that our citizens will continue to die Technology sector are rather slim in the short to medium
of preventable and curable ailments as long as we term. This is why we need to focus our research efforts and
continue to lack the technology necessary to expenditure on the few areas where we have comparative
manufacture essential medical equipment needed advantage – areas like agriculture, petrochemicals,
for efficient health-care delivery. renewable energy, and mining, to mention a few.

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Thirdly, more effective partnerships between the [3] Crespi, F. (2004). Notes on the Determinants of
public and private sector should be established. Innovation: A Multi-Perspective Analysis Retrieved Sept.
Finally, mechanisms must be put in place to improve 18th 2015, from www.insme.org/files/848
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deliver this end. In the case of college/university research, [6] Kubacki, K. (2014). Ideas in Marketing: Finding the
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