Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology bagged the Entrepreneurship Education System of the Year award in the just concluded Kenya Innovation Week (KIW), December 8, 2022.
Organised by the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA), KIW intends to champion relevant policy engagements on innovations within institutions while promoting practical skills necessary to create innovations that positively impact people.
JKUAT took home the award due to her stellar record of supporting innovation and enterprise development, with quality entrepreneurial programs for training future innovators.
While awarding the category, KENIA CEO, Dr. Tonny Omwansa lauded JKUAT for its innovation and research prowess saying the University has established support facilities such as the IP Management Office, Technology transfer programs, and an incubation facility to support student and staff venture development.
“JKUAT has established an active Directorate of Intellectual Property Management and University-Industrial Liaison which has gone above and beyond to implement JKUAT Intellectual Property policy, promote commercialisation of university’s intellectual property assets in view of providing economic return to staff, students and the university at large,” said Dr. Omwansa.
Since its inception, JKUAT has been at the forefront in fostering a culture of research and innovation among faculty and students. The establishment of JKUAT Industrial Park has been instrumental in supporting incubation of research into viable ventures.
Top-notch research enterprises have been taking place at JKUAT that have earned the University recognition and prestige not only in Kenya but also internationally. JKUAT is home to the Legume Centre of Excellence for Food Nutrition Security, Cassava Virology Lab, EU-funded Food Fortification Lab, and Innovation Prototyping Centre among others.
According to JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, the University places a premium on research and innovation as a key to realizing government’s development programmes for the benefit of Kenyans.
“We have top-notch brains in JKUAT, working internally and through international linkages to solve problems facing the region,” said Prof. Ngumi.
During the four-day Kenya Innovation Week, themed Connecting Innovations Glocally, JKUAT joined over 100 exhibitors who graced the event to showcase various innovations.
The Kenya Innovation Week is a forum designed as a platform for building bridges and synergies between government, academia, the private sector, and the informal sector to advance the national innovation value chain.
Source: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology