KCA University is championing research and innovation in Kenya through the establishment of four digital hubs and a Ksh. 10 million fund.
Speaking during the institution’s Innovation Week and Industry Summit, the Deputy VC in charge of Research, Innovations, and Outreach Prof. Vincent Onywera noted that the digital hubs, situated across KCA’s four campuses in Ruaraka, Nairobi City, Kitengela, and Kisumu, are slated to commence operations early next year.
“The project aims to provide support for local innovators to commercialize their projects, addressing the challenge of many promising research ideas in Kenya not making it to market,” he noted.
Prof. Onywera emphasized the inclusivity of the hubs, welcoming any Kenyan with incubatable ideas.
He further asserted that the university’s decision to allocate funds is geared toward supporting innovations lacking resources or space.
Prof. Onywera underscored the role of industry collaboration in commercializing more than 30 student innovations.
Additionally, he added that the hubs will engage industry experts in developing prototypes, and he calls for stakeholder support and collaboration from other universities.
The VC Isaiah Wakindi expressed optimism that the fund will contribute to groundbreaking research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and benefiting societal advancement.
The university emphasizes the importance of an enabling government environment for research.
In a parallel initiative, Moi University is accelerating the commercialization of its research innovations to generate revenue.
Dr. Kefa Chepkwony, leading the working group on commercializing innovations, outlines the strategy to expedite the transformation of innovations into viable market products.
The university, having patented seven innovations in 2021 and submitted 21 more applications, is committed to advancing its contributions to the innovation landscape.
By Viola Chepkemoi
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