Research and innovation remain central in solving current challenges and a critical proposition for youth empowerment in Kenya. The Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala said this in a speech read by TU-K VC, Prof. Benedict Mutua during the Kenya National Research Festival 2024 stakeholders’ briefing. “It is recognised globally that research, science, technology, and innovation are essential for social and economic development. Most European and North America countries owe their development to intensive application of research findings.
The rapid industrialization of the Southeast countries, such as Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, China and India, is also largely attributed to the focus on utilization RSTI. Kenya is no exception in harnessing RSTI value proposition for youth empowerment and Bottom up Economic Transformation Agenda delivery.”
The research festival will take place from 19th to 23rd August 2024 in Nairobi. The event is being jointly organised by the National Research Fund (NRF) and Young Scientists Kenya (YSK). The festival is themed; research partnership and collaborations for socio-economic transformation.
In his remarks, Prof. Mutua said TU-K is keen on commercialising research, in addition to the traditional focus on teaching and innovation. “Normally, we talk about the triangle of knowledge, and now we have advanced to square of knowledge, where one corner is teaching/learning, research and innovation, but now we have a very important corner which is; research to commercialisation. That is the focus we are focusing as a university, that whatever we research is packaged and is out there to impact society.”
Laikipia University VC, Prof. Joseph Rotich, VC added; “The university is a seedbed of research that can commercialised. The upcoming festival will open up opportunities and build up research interest especially among the young learners.
Muranga University VC Prof. Dickson Nyariki and Kisii University DVC-ARSA, Fredrick Wanyama among representatives from other universities also attended stakeholder meeting.
NRF CEO Prof. Dickson Andala said; “This festival is where great ideas will be born, partnerships forged, and the transformative power of research fully realised. It is a platform where Kenyan youth, through the partnership between NRF and Young Scientists Kenya (YSK), will demonstrate their capacity for innovation and scientific excellence.”
During the festival YSK will be hosting the 7th YSK National Science and Technology Exhibition that will bring together, both physically and virtually, over 1,000 students from 390 schools drawn from 47 counties to showcase and compete in science, innovation, and research projects.
The festival expects to enhance; linkages, reward and recognise research excellence, increase interest in research careers, spur economic transformation through cutting-edge research.
Some of the activities that will take place during the festival include; exhibition, research documentation, keynote speeches, awards presentation, career fairs training among other engagements.
Researchers from all spheres including; students (both lower and higher learning institutions), postdocs and lead researchers can submit their abstracts and poster presentations in areas including:
- Health and life sciences
- Agriculture and food security
- Manufacturing and engineering
- Energy; renewable and non-renewable
- Natural resource, climate change and adaptation
- Education and social sciences
- Digital transformation and transport
- Critical national infrastructure
- Sustainable, safety and resilience
Abstracts can be submitted to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For further information on the festival and competition, visit https://festival.nrf.go.ke
