[2] The distinctive features of the 1996 Act are the emphasis accorded private sector concerns, and the introduction of market principles into the council's operations through the commercialization of research.

In this connection, the council is expected to generate part of its income through the sale of its products and services, and to institute a system of contract research.

The CSIR is mandated to perform the following functions among others: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has seven thematic areas; namely the Science and People, Electronics and ICT, Biomedical and Public Health, Energy and Petroleum, Material Science Manufacturing, Climate Change Environmental Conservation Green Technology and Food Security and Poverty Reduction.

The Deputy Director-General is responsible to the Director-General for overseeing the development and execution of the research and development activities of the thirteen (13) institutes of the CSIR as well as the council's programmes and projects; assists the Director- General in setting the research priorities of the council in line with Government policy and acts for the Director General in his/her absence.

The Director of Commercialization is to advise the Director-General on all issues relating to commercialization; to oversee all operations of Commercialization and Information Divisions of the institutes (CIDs) in terms of strategy development and implementation; oversee marketing orientation and training programmes; supervise the activities of Marketing Officers/Public Relations Officers; provision of pricing and costing information; advertising and promotion; marketing research and information; corporate image building and S&T popularization.