- Mugunda said research plays a pivotal role in shaping the course of a nation and fostering innovations that address critical societal challenges
- National Research Festival has been organised by the National Research Fund and the Young Scientists Kenya
Image: HANDOUTS
Nairobi is set to host first National Research Festival where young scientists will present breakthrough innovations.
The festival seeks to inspire the next generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Higher Education and Research PS Beatrice Mugunda said globally, research, science, technology and innovation are essential for social and economic development.
“More importantly, they are central to competitiveness in an increasingly globalised and knowledge-based world. Most European and North American countries owe their development to intensive application of recent advances in research,” she said.
“The rapid industrialisation of the Southeast countries such as Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, China and India, is also largely attributed to research, science and technology. Kenya is no exception in harnessing RSTI value proposition for youth empowerment and Bottom-up Economic and Transformation Agenda.”
Mugunda said research plays a pivotal role in shaping the course of a nation and fostering innovations that address critical societal challenges.
National Research Festival has been organised by the National Research Fund and the Young Scientists Kenya. It will take place from August 19-23 and will feature more than 1,000 students from 390 schools across all the counties.
National Research Fund CEO Prof Dickson Andala said the festival will provide a platform for Kenyan youth to demonstrate their capacity for innovation and scientific excellence.
“Over the past two years, we have witnessed firsthand transformative power of research and innovation in driving socio-economic development,” he said.
“We want to leverage this opportunity to amplify the impact of research in our society, economy and environment. Together, we can inspire the next generation of innovators, solve pressing challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth and development.”
The inaugural event will bring together researchers, institutions and young scientists.
Research such as Kemri's stem cell research that the National Research Fund funded in the past 10 years, will be showcased.
“Stem cell research is important for treating and healing wounds. The other innovation is on high breed of cows, a research being conducted by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation. These are some of the many innovations that researchers will be showcasing during the festival,” Andala said.
He said two per cent of the GDP should go towards research and currently about 0.8 per cent has been set aside for research.
“However, it's not enough. Researchers are still asking for more funding to be able to take research to the next level,” Andala said.
“The coffee you took has been developed at the Coffee Research Institute while tea is developed from the Tea Research Foundation. Let us not think that research is not tangible, but it is our everyday life,” said Joyce Ngure from the Ministry of Education's department of Research and Technology.