Konza Technopolis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) to set up a centre which will support
innovation by startups.
The Konza Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) will create Intellectual Property awareness and offer education to innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers through workshops and training programmes.
The centre will also support local businesses and start-ups navigate the patenting and trademark registration processes and educating them on how to protect their innovations.
It will also offer advisory services on how to successfully commercialise innovations, including licensing, partnerships, and venture funding.
The centre will further facilitate connections between innovators, investors, industry experts, and potential partners to help bring innovations to market.
“We believe that the establishment of a TISC at Konza Technopolis will provide much-needed support to scale start-ups and innovation efforts as well as support the wider innovation ecosystem to further enhance Kenya’s position as the Silicon Savannah, a leader in the African technology and innovation space,” Konza Technopolis Development Authority CEO John Paul Okwiri said.
KIPI’s role is to, among others, provide the public, with industrial property information for technological and economic development; and to promote inventiveness and innovativeness in Kenya.
To this end, KIPI is the designated focal point for the establishment and coordination of the Kenyan Technology and Innovation Support Centre Network.
“We are bringing our expertise in IP management, patenting, trademark registration, and commercialisation strategies which will be vital in guiding local innovators and businesses toward maximising the value of their intellectual property assets,” KIPI CEO John Ochieng said.
Ochieng noted that services will be offered free of charge to ensure many innovators are able to register their IP for their innovation.
Okwiri reiterated that the MoU will allow them to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialisation by providing crucial services and resources to innovators and researchers.
He added that the deal will help bridge the gap between innovation and market entry.
