Nyeri: The government is intensifying efforts to mobilize extra resources for research, technology, and innovation through forging partnerships with development agencies, universities, and industry players, Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak has said.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking during Zetech University’s Eighth Research and Innovation Week at the institution’s Technology Park Campus in Mang’u, Juja, Prof. Shaukat said increased investment in research is critical if the country is to leverage innovation as a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development.
Currently, the government spends 0.8 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research, technology, and innovation, far below the recommended minimum of two percent required to spur innovation and enhance the country’s competitiveness.
To bridge the funding gap, the PS said the government is keen on investing in knowledge, creativity, and technology, hence the need for increased funding.
“Research and innovation require multiple funding streams. We are optimistic that through partnerships at university-to-university level and with our development partners, we will be able to raise sufficient funding for research in our country,” he said.
Prof. Shaukat observed that despite the abundance of innovative ideas emerging from Kenyan universities and research institutions, many fail to progress beyond the prototype stage due to inadequate funding, weak commercialization frameworks, and limited market linkages.
He said the government is keen on creating stronger connections between researchers and industry to ensure innovations are developed into viable products and services that can address societal challenges and create jobs.
The PS further noted that the government has embraced evidence-based policymaking and is increasingly relying on research findings to guide decisions in critical sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and technology.
“The synergy between research and industry is what ultimately determines the impact of innovation. When the two work together, we bridge the gap between ideas and implementation and accelerate the journey from innovation to impact,” he said.
Zetech University Chancellor, Prof. Susan Alfano Nkinyangi, called for greater investment in science, technology, and innovation, noting that countries can only overcome challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, healthcare disparities, and rapid technological change through research-driven solutions.
“When universities, industry, government, and development partners work together, research moves from laboratories to communities, from concepts to products, and from ideas to measurable impact,” said Prof. Nkinyangi.
The event brought together stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and communities to explore practical solutions for sustainable development through research and innovation.
