Innovation & Incubation
The directorate works to foster the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Kenyatta University through establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship programmes that have strong links with industry.
Industry collaborations are critical for skills development (education and training), the generation, acquisition, and adoption of knowledge (innovation and technology transfer), and the promotion of entrepreneurship (start-ups and spin-offs). The directorate also works to enhance coordination of Research and Development (R&D) agendas and avoid duplications, stimulate additional private R&D investments, and exploit synergies and complementarities of scientific and technological capabilities. This collaborations also expands the relevance of research carried out in Kenyatta University, foster the commercialization of R&D outcomes, and increase the mobility of labour between Kenyatta University and industry. The industry benefits through increases in the propensity of firms to introduce new products and to patent. Kenyatta University (KU) established Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre as a dedicated innovation and incubation hub. This arose since it is one of Kenyatta University’s major strategic goals aimed at responding to societal needs. Innovation is a key driver of long- term economic growth, the primary basis for competitiveness in world markets and part of the response to many societal challenges. While public expectations from technological innovation are evolving in line with social concerns (e.g. unemployment, sustainable development, aging populations), the innovation process itself is facing major challenges, especially in developing countries such as Kenya.- Location: Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa
- Website: http://www.ku.ac.ke/iiuil