Support and adopt local innovations, varsity urges State

Leon Muli, a student at Zetech university demonstrates how the 'Omanyala' robot works to the Zetech vice chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene and Prof. Grace Njoroge, the Deputy Commission Secretary Division of Accreditation addressing. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

The State has been urged to support young innovators and adopt new technologies relevant to growth in the 21st century.

Zetech University Vice Chancellor Njenga Munene said the failure of the government to offer much-needed support has seen local innovations being bought by foreigners.

''Unfortunately, many Kenyans and government do not support local innovations at the lower level so that they become commercialised," said Prof Munene.

He spoke at the university's Ruiru Campus during the Research and Innovation Week themed "Innovation for sustainable development and emerging disruptions in the 21st century.''Innovators who were exhibiting at the event said lack of funding was a challenge in moving their ideas from prototype to full innovation. This is despite the government's promise of prioritising Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Vision 2030. Prof Munene added that more innovations were being stolen by foreigners and that there was a need to change policy on financial support and protection of intellectual property rights.

''Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPPI) needs to up its game and liaise with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) so that innovations are not stolen by those who have money,'' he said. He said in seeking to promote innovations, the university had made it mandatory for students to undertake an entrepreneurial and Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) course. This, he said, is because "we are in the fourth industrial revolution which is driven by information."

''Zetech aspires to be a leading university in research, innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination and this can only be achieved through strategic collaborations with researchers and innovators,'' he added.

Prof Grace Njoroge, the Deputy CEO in charge of accreditation at the Commission of University Education (CUE) attended the event. Mr Benedict Omollo, Standard Group's Chief Officer - Operations and Strategy, challenged students to focus on creative solutions and the needs of the markets. He represented Standard Group PLC CEO Orlando Lyomu at the function.

The media company recently partnered with Zetech on matters of innovation and research.