The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) on Monday unveiled its 10-Year Innovation Masterplan and presented collaboration opportunities aimed at unmasking the pillars of the organization’s initiative.
Speaking during the launch event at Mövenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi, KeNIA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tonny Omwansa announced key initiatives by the organization, including Kenya Innovation Week 2024, the CEIL Summit 2024, and the Presidential Innovation Award.
“We have plans to introduce new courses at KeNIA Innovation Academy, as well as feature practical showcases and pitching by 2023 Presidential Innovation Award Finalists,” Dr. Omwansa said.
Dr. Omwansa detailed the two major focus areas of the 10-Year Master Plan: research commercialization and the startup ecosystem. He further emphasized the need for partnerships with the private sector to build capacity at institutional levels and use data in policy and regulatory environments to foster an innovation-friendly environment.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from government, private, and international institutions to discuss how they can engage in various projects and collaborate toward a more innovative and prosperous Kenya. It also served as a platform for networking and fostering discussions to enhance the national innovation ecosystem.
Mrs. Alice Ng’ang’a, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Protection at the National Assembly, emphasized that the Innovation Master Plan is a guiding beacon for national development, designed to harness innovation across all sectors, including Human Capital, Access to Finance, Markets, Infrastructure, and Policy.
Mrs. Ng’ang’a expressed confidence and support for the Kenya Innovation Week (KIW), scheduled for November 25th–29th, 2024, an annual event by KeNIA that showcases and celebrates the progress of the National Innovation Ecosystem.
“I am delighted to announce that we have plans to add a new category for public sector innovations aimed at enhancing government responsiveness to service delivery and supporting the Presidential Innovation Award. This initiative is expected to create approximately 387,000 innovation-related jobs,” she said.
She further called on stakeholders to explore opportunities and forge partnerships to advance the innovation agenda and position Kenya as a global leader in innovation.
The meeting also focused on fostering private sector efforts to accelerate startup ecosystems. Among the partners involved were Britam, which runs BetaLab, a corporate accelerator innovation program designed to nurture startups over 36 months. Other partners in the program include JICA, British Council, FCDO, AfDB, KonZa Metropolis, and other ongoing partners in KeNIA’s innovation programs.
Over the next 10 years, KeNIA aims to among other things; Foster leadership, governance, and funding, Achieve adequate infrastructure for innovation, Improve human capital and Create linkages and partnerships for innovation.
It further seks to Promote entrepreneurial education as well as Develop policies and strategies that encourage innovation.
In the year since the Master Plan’s launch, over 10 universities have adopted an entrepreneurial education approach. The ongoing Commercialisation and Entrepreneurial Institutions Leaders (CEIL) Summit, scheduled for August 29th–30th, 2024, aims to further capacity building.
KeNIA continues to seek partnerships and collaborations to boost innovation, create job opportunities for the youth, and generate wealth.
Additional reporting by Bruno Ahero
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