MMUST’s Director of Science Park, Innovation and Incubation Centre (SPIIC), Prof. John Muoma, during the Annual Central Rift Innovation Week.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is among the Tech organizations in Kenya leading the way in commercialization of innovations along with Kabarak University, Kenya Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, ICT authority, Kirdi, Victoria Ventures, Eldo Hub, Nakuru Box among other innovation-oriented organizations. This was exhibited when MMUST participated in the annual Central Rift Innovation Week (CRIW) from 11 to 15 September, 2023 at Kabarak University Nakuru. The University was represented by the Director Science Park, Innovation and Incubation Centre (SPIIC), , who was standing in for the Vice Chancellor, .
The event brought together different groups of people including innovators, researchers, industry and government with the intention of showcasing their innovations, to spur prototyping in order to commercialize the output. This year’s CRIW forum theme was ‘Commercialization of Research and Innovation’.
The colourful set up at Kabarak University.
Speaking during an interview, Prof. Muoma noted that the timely meeting resonates with the current MMUST strategic plan, which intends to commercialize and license some of MMUST Intellectual Property.
Representing ELDO Hub, Ms Sarah Chepwogen pointed out that her institution is keen on establishing a working relationship with innovators from MMUST as a way of synergizing different companies’ strengths within the digital platform. She encouraged young techies and programmers to register for ‘SASA Kazi’, a digital platform that will provide them with a platform to develop and build on their digital skills.
Additionally, participants from the sector of social science were encouraged to interact and relate with innovation Hubs like ‘BARAZA media Lab’, in order for them to build their innovation skills in the world of social science.
“This will reduce loss of new IPs in social sciences where new intellectual properties are lost through infringements such as piracy,” said Ms. Chepwogen.
Artistes entertain participants at the CRIW 2023.
The MMUST IP contracted company, FOIPAL Ltd was represented by Mr. Frederick Otswongo, who shared their experience in IP protection in the current digital economy. Other presentations made by FOIPAL included ‘Monetizing Intellectual Property and Establishing of Sustainable Innovation Center’, an idea which MMUST Science Park is exploring in cooperation with partner Universities in the region.
It is worth noting that the CRIW week entails a series of activities including sensitization meetings, plenary sessions, workshops and exhibitions by Universities, Technical and Vocational Training Colleges, the counties and the public. The event is being sponsored by Kabarak University in partnership with Kenya Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, ICT authority, Kirdi, Victoria Ventures, Eldo Hub, Nakuru Box among other innovation-oriented organizations.
The interactive sessions enabled meetings with partners in Industry, Investors and Hubs keen on value addition, product and service development, a platform that would open up a Huawei Center in MMUST. This step will up-scale the University’s interaction with AJIRA and result in the opening up of new regional innovation and training spaces together with ELDO Hub and NAKURU Hubs in the Rift Valley region.
Certainly, the partnerships established will enable MMUST spur its innovation capacity and develop a sustainable incubation space, which can incorporate digital transformation within SMEs, industries and Universities functional modalities.
By; Dr. Lydia Anyonje and Caren Nekesa
