Nairobi: To strengthen Kenya's innovation ecosystem, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) will combine resources and expertise to commercialize intellectual property (IP).
According to Kenya News Agency, at a meeting held at JKUAT, Dr. Tonny Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer of KeNIA, stated that JKUAT is a significant contributor to Kenya's innovation landscape. He expressed KeNIA's intention to support and expand the university's activities as a leading institution in IP commercialization. Dr. Omwansa explained that KeNIA has the mandate to develop and manage national innovation systems, while JKUAT is tasked with producing applicable knowledge and innovations, necessitating a coordinated strategy between the two institutions.
Dr. Omwansa highlighted the interdependence between KeNIA's success and that of Kenyan universities and research organizations, emphasizing efforts to establish universities as centers of innovation excellence. He underscored KeNIA's dedication to partnering with universities to cultivate a culture, incentives, processes, and partnerships that will significantly enhance Kenya's innovation and contribute to national prosperity and prestige.
While welcoming the KeNIA delegation, JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi stated that the institution had made considerable efforts to embed a culture of innovation and creativity within its faculties. She noted that JKUAT currently holds 17 of the 51 patents acquired by public universities and research institutions in Kenya, translating to a 31 percent ownership stake. Prof. Ngumi added that JKUAT has made a deliberate shift to become a research and entrepreneurship-focused university, currently conducting research and innovation in 17 key areas.
The university, she stated, currently enjoys a cohort of highly trained experts across the board in various facets of the IP value chain, representing a significant resource that KeNIA can utilize in its endeavors to support local universities and other institutions. The two teams held discussions relating to IP protection, commercialization strategies, and the various methods of technology transfer.