- “When academic research is aligned with industry needs, the potential for ground-breaking discoveries and technological advancements increases exponentially.”
- Miano said innovations and research form the cornerstone of the government’s strategy for achieving self-dependence and growth of local markets.
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Investments, Trade and Industry CS Rebecca Miano has called for collaboration between universities and industries to enhance innovation in the country.
The CS said Innovation is the lifeblood of economic transformation, particularly in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Miano added that the collaboration would lead to the development of products and services and that serve market demands while creating new markets and opportunities.
“When academic research is aligned with industry needs, the potential for ground-breaking discoveries and technological advancements increases exponentially,” she explained.
Miano called on universities to be thriving hubs of knowledge and research and breeding grounds for innovation. “They are our intellectual capital factories and home to transformational ideas that can yield tangible solutions to cure real challenges,” she added.
The CS added that the government is committed to supporting innovations that contribute to regeneration.
“We are investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, media and digital disruptions and circular economy initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and social equity," she said.
"We are also working to enhance the capacity of our local industries to adopt and scale up innovations, thereby creating jobs and improving livelihoods,” she stated.
Miano made the remarks during Zetech University’s Innovation Week at the Mang’u Campus in Kiambu County.
The CS said the theme of this year’s event, 'Innovate, Disrupt, Regenerate', is in perfect consonance with the government’s vision for accelerated economic transformation.
She said innovations and research form the cornerstone of the government’s strategy for achieving self-dependence and growth of local markets.
“It opens new doors for sharper green skills, cutting-edge creativity, courage to challenge the status quo, and commitment to inject new thinking and reimagine our systems for a more rewarding tomorrow,” she said.
Miano noted that the government is taking proactive steps to support local researchers and innovators with the tools they need by enhancing funding for research and development, strengthening of industry-academia linkages, and undertaking joint research projects and internship programmes that allow students to gain practical experience in the industry.
She further added that the government is also keen on supporting start-ups and incubation centres and promoting intellectual property rights to ensure innovators reap the full benefits of their inventions.