After a four-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Technology (UTech) is set to host its annual Research Technology and Innovation Day (RTID) on April 10 at its Papine campus in St Andrew.

The event which is being spearheaded by the School of Graduate Studies Research and Entrepreneurship under the theme ‘Innovate. Create. Transform‘, will showcase cutting-edge research and innovations in STEM and other disciplines presented by staff and students across the university’s eight academic units. 

Slated as an all-day exhibition, the event will feature Professor Norman Munroe—a Fulbright scholar and renowned expert in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Florida International University (FIU)—who will deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony.

He will share insights from his research journey at FIU, highlighting key strategies for driving research innovation, increasing output, and fostering collaboration within the academic community.

Munroe’s research focuses on renewable energy, corrosion, and biomaterials, and he has published 220 peer-reviewed journal articles, proceedings, presentations and book chapters.

UTech president Dr Kevin Brown stated that “the 2025 renewal of UTech’s Research, Technology and Innovation Day is a long-awaited event that reaffirms the institution’s position as Jamaica’s premier public STEM university with our commitment to nation building through research and innovative solutions.” 

The president further noted that, “with our current RESET transformation strategy to become more research-driven, entrepreneurial, student-centred, and creating expanded-access and more technology-focused initiatives, this event will provide a preview of impactful research and innovations at UTech, and the critical role that we continue to play in sustainable development.”

Dr Paul Ivey, associate professor and associate VP for graduate studies, research and entrepreneurship, also emphasised the significance of the event as a platform for celebrating UTech’s role in advancing knowledge and technology that drives positive change in society.

He notes that “During its 67 years of existence, the university, through purpose-driven, relevant, and impactful research, examples of which will be showcased on Research, Technology and Innovation Day, has contributed to advancing Jamaica’s national development goals.”