NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) is calling on the private sector to collaborate in accelerating the country’s start-up ecosystem, with the goal of enhancing innovation and creating more job opportunities for the youth.
KeNIA CEO Tony Omwansa emphasized the importance of these partnerships during a meeting on Monday that brought together stakeholders from government, private, and international institutions.
“Partnerships and collaborations are vital in increasing innovation and creating more job opportunities for our youth,” Omwansa stated.
He outlined how the private sector can play a crucial role in advancing Kenya’s national innovation environment, which is pivotal for economic growth and development.
The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to explore involvement in various innovative projects.
Among the partners already on board is Britam, which runs BetaLab, a corporate accelerator program aimed at transforming existing innovations into viable start-ups over a 36-month period.
Other notable partners include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), British Council, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, African Development Bank, and KonZa Metropolis.
During the event, KeNIA unveiled the pillars of Kenya’s 10-year innovation masterplan, presenting multiple opportunities for collaboration.
The agency also announced several key initiatives for the year, including Kenya Innovation Week 2024, the Entrepreneurial Institutions Leaders’ Summit slated for August 29-30, 2024, and the National Innovation Ecosystem event scheduled for November 25-29, 2024.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who chairs the Committee on Social Protection at the National Assembly, underscored the significance of innovation in national development.
She expressed her support for the upcoming Kenya Innovation Week, which she described as a vital event for showcasing and celebrating the progress of the national innovation ecosystem.
KeNIA, established under the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Act, No. 28 of 2013 under the Ministry of Education, is tasked with developing and managing Kenya’s National Innovation System.
KeNIA CEO Tony Omwansa emphasized the importance of these partnerships during a meeting on Monday that brought together stakeholders from government, private, and international institutions.
“Partnerships and collaborations are vital in increasing innovation and creating more job opportunities for our youth,” Omwansa stated.
He outlined how the private sector can play a crucial role in advancing Kenya’s national innovation environment, which is pivotal for economic growth and development.
The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to explore involvement in various innovative projects.
Among the partners already on board is Britam, which runs BetaLab, a corporate accelerator program aimed at transforming existing innovations into viable start-ups over a 36-month period.
Other notable partners include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), British Council, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, African Development Bank, and KonZa Metropolis.
During the event, KeNIA unveiled the pillars of Kenya’s 10-year innovation masterplan, presenting multiple opportunities for collaboration.
The agency also announced several key initiatives for the year, including Kenya Innovation Week 2024, the Entrepreneurial Institutions Leaders’ Summit slated for August 29-30, 2024, and the National Innovation Ecosystem event scheduled for November 25-29, 2024.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who chairs the Committee on Social Protection at the National Assembly, underscored the significance of innovation in national development.
She expressed her support for the upcoming Kenya Innovation Week, which she described as a vital event for showcasing and celebrating the progress of the national innovation ecosystem.
KeNIA, established under the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Act, No. 28 of 2013 under the Ministry of Education, is tasked with developing and managing Kenya’s National Innovation System.
