By Patrick Amunavi
The exploitation of research, science, technology and innovation (RST&I) received substantial attention from the Government when over 66 research projects at a local university won competitive research grants to the tune of Sh115 million for the 2016/17 financial year.
Through the National Research Fund (NRF), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) researchers received the funding to carry out research in various fields.
NRF a national research agency established under the Science Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Act of 2013 to facilitate research, science, technology and innovation for national development.
This is the inaugural research grants by NRF and it Postgraduate category (master’s and PhD), multidisciplinary and multi-institutional category.
“The beneficiaries responded to a call for research funds for Masters, PhD as well as Multidisciplinary and Multi-institutional support categories,” JKUAT Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Production and Extension Prof Mary Abukutsa said.
Out of the 66 postgraduate projects, 35 Masters projects were awarded Sh13.7 million, while 29 PhD projects received Sh42.6 million, whereas six research projects under the multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional category bagged over Sh59.3 million.
She added: Although there is much to be done to scale up financial resources towards research to 2 per cent of the GDP as indicated in ST&I Act, this award of research funds is a significant milestone by the State towards strengthening research and innovation.”
This, she further explains, is a positive contribution towards poverty alleviation initiatives in line with the country’s socio-economic development blue print.
“NRF will help us increase research and innovation output because NRF is also funding innovations through the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA).”
KENIA is expected to support innovations that have been lying on the shelves of research institutions due to lack of funds to harness them into service and product utilities through commercialization.
Prof Abukutsa is also optimistic the research grants come as a big relief to postgraduate students and will translate into higher completion rates at Masters and PhD level, at a time the country’s higher education sector is facing a shortage of human resource with PhDs.
