Institutional Commercialization Support Phase II Close out Workshop
It is increasingly recognized that linking knowledge and innovations to markets is essential for a country’s growth and socio-economic development. Kenyan institutions, universities and labs stand as crucial drivers of innovation, playing a vital role in fostering business development through the generation of innovations, launch of startups, and generally, generation of research outputs.
The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) in collaboration with African Centre of Technology Studies (ACTS) and the ATP program initiated and advertised Expression of Interest (EoI) for Institutional Commercialization Support Phase II where University of Kabianga and four other institutions; namely Jaramongi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Moi University, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute were selected competitively to implement the program beginning end of 2022.
The program aimed at developing, validating and implementing Institutional Commercialization Innovation Master Plans (2022-2025) and in view of the same, University of Kabianga was able to develop and validate a commercialization master plan to guide on all aspects of innovations and converting innovative ideas to commercializable products.
University of Kabianga was among other institutions who attended the Institutional Support Phase II close out workshop in Lake Naivasha Resort on 10th to 11th July, 2023 organized by KeNIA, ACTS and UKAid (FCDO). The workshop was a culmination of efforts by the Institutional Support Phase II work on strengthening technology transfer and commercialization. University of Kabianga was able to present the University of Kabianga Commercialization Innovation Master Plan (2022 – 2025) which aims at strengthening the capacity to convert research outputs to innovative projects with high commercialization impact and outlines different pathways to achieve specific outcomes. University of Kabianga management board has began implementation of the master plan by setting up a Technology Transfer Office under the Division of Research, Linkages and Extension which will streamline all aspects of innovation ideation, incubation, IP rights, and commercialization of projects.
University of Kabianga team was led by Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Elijah Omwenga together with Prof. Issa Mwamzandi (Director of Research, Linkages and Extension), Dr. Patriciah Chepkwony (Director of Marketing) and Dr. Shadrack Mule (Technology Transfer Officer, TTO).