The centre was established to:

• Serve as a training centre for the development of middle-to-high level manpower in science, technology and innovation (STI) management to all tiers of government and the private sector;

• Conduct policy research, evaluation and review with a view to making policy recommendations for dynamic technology-based development;

• Establish, maintain and provide access to databanks on STI research outputs and facilitate activities towards commercial exploitation;

• Design and run postgraduate Courses/Programmes in STI management in conjunction with appropriate Departments/Units of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and other Universities/Institutions;

• Assist the various tiers of government (Federal, State and Local) in the country in STI policy formulation and strategies for utilising such for development; and

• Collaborate with other countries especially African countries in STI training, policy research and consultancy.