By Correspondent
Researchers have been encouraged to focus on commercialization of innovations and new technologies in their respective institutions if they are to tackle vices such as poverty, disease and ignorance which adversely affect the region.
Addressing participants drawn from various universities and research institution’s during the opening of a week-long workshop on innovation organized by the Kenya National Innovation agency (KENIA) in Naivasha, the Principal Secretary University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi cited inadequate capacities and abilities as one of the challenges contributing to low levels of commercialization of innovations and to determine their contribution to the country’s development agenda.
The PS noted that there are many Kenyans with talent of developing innovations but they lack the necessary financial support. He said the link between innovation and economic change is of great interest to the nation hence the main reason to engage in commercialization processes which could be the best remedy to entrepreneurial success and the country’s economic development.
The Chief Executive Officer, KENIA Dr. Tony Omwonsa in his remarks said over 100 champions who would become agents of change will be trained within the coming one year. He further added that KENIA plans to organize the Kenya innovation week in December this year as a way of addressing the challenges facing innovation ecosystem. A national innovations award he said will also be introduced as a way of recognizing innovators and startups.
The aim of the workshop is to find ways of addressing myriad of challenges facing the national innovation ecosystem. Participants are drawn from 38 local institutions.
The meeting also aims at building ways of harnessing innovation and emerging technologies in view to opening up and sustaining the active involvement of local players.
