Kenya Pushes Digital Innovation Forward with Alliance between KeNIA and British Council
Kenya's National Innovation Efforts: A Focus on the Entrepreneurial Leadership Training Program (ELTP)
The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) recently hosted a meeting, with the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, present. The meeting was focused on national innovation efforts and the progress of the ELTP.
Prof. Abdulrazak emphasized the importance of making all academic and research institutions more entrepreneurial. He also urged the allocation of at least 1% of GDP to the research sector and strengthening linkages between universities and industry. A dedicated fund to support innovative research was also urged by Prof. Abdulrazak.
The ELTP, a part of national innovation efforts, is currently active and scheduled for key events in September 2025, in Mombasa. The theme for the 2025 program is "Transforming our African Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for Sustainable Growth." The event aims to attract industry leaders and innovators to foster ecosystem development.
A significant development in the ELTP's progress is the Operational Alliance Strategy signed between KeNIA and the British Council. This collaboration aims to enhance the commercialization of innovations and support the establishment of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in universities and institutions participating in the ELTP.
The strategic partnership also aims to support the commercialization journey of 11 newly onboarded institutions. Kabarak University exemplifies this impact, actively participating in ELTP-led innovation efforts, including establishing a TTO, renovating innovation centers, supporting AgriTech, AI, health tech innovations, and nurturing startups with innovation funds and piloting spaces.
While there is no direct mention of The RISA Fund in the available 2025 sources, the ELTP’s collaborative framework with KeNIA and the British Council indicates a strong foundation for ongoing and future partnerships to expand support for innovation commercialization and entrepreneurship in Kenya.
Notable innovations and commercialization efforts were showcased by Vice Chancellors from the ELTP, including Cooking Gel, SEKU honey, Chelalang Seeds, and Smart Mavuno. Prof. Abdulrazak also called for institutions to contribute data to the national Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) repository and leveraging data for resource mobilization in research and commercialization.
In summary, the ELTP is a pivotal program advancing Kenya’s entrepreneurial leadership through training, partnerships, and innovation ecosystem development. The strategic alliance between KeNIA and the British Council, along with the participation of universities like Kabarak, is set to drive Kenya's innovation landscape forward.
Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the entrepreneurial leadership training program (ELTP) and fostering innovation in Kenya, as highlighted by Prof. Abdulrazak. He advocates for the integration of technology in all academic and research institutions to support the commercialization of innovations and the establishment of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) as part of the education-and-self-development initiatives.
