REPOSITIONING PTDF AS A SOURCE OF CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY: A COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT.

The mandate of an organization is fundamental to achieving its objectives in society and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund is not an exception. Research Development and Innovation is one of the Key mandates of the PTDF and repositioning it for the desired purposes in the industry is in high demand and of necessity. In this paper, strategic approaches developed to reposition the research focus of the Fund is examined. Challenges and opportunities are highlighted for possible frontier expansion and restructuring at optimal levels. Oil and Gas industry is highly technical and competitive, requiring the use of the best technologies in solving problems and research development and innovations is the bedrock in achieving and sustaining such goals. The primary purpose of the PTDF as a technology development agency of government must be redirected with state-of-the-act policy to drive research as a cutting-edge tool for national economic development. Secondly, this paper identified key knowledge enablers and inhibitors to the use of research information for industrial development. Accordingly, this paper is useful for research design, policy formulation and structural reform in research development and innovative cycle for the energy industry and other sectors of the economy. Finally, this paper will serve as a source document for the expansion project on research restructuring in Oil and Gas in Nigeria.Keywords: Research Development and Innovation, Strategic Knowledge Enablers and Inhibitors, Frontier Basins, Collaboration and Linkages.