By John Emeripus
Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage today met a team from Kenya National Innovation Agency( KeNIA) who is at the University to discuss on the challenges facing Kenyan Universities on the framework for excellence in Intellectual Property Rights ( IPR) management.
The discussions centered around enhancing the university’s capacity to manage and commercialize research intellectual property rights (IPR), aligning with policy, legal and regulatory framework.
During the engagement, Prof.Kibwage emphasized Egerton University’s commitment to nurturing innovative research and safeguarding intellectual property generated by Academic staff and students.
He expressed optimism that this discussion with KeNIA would significantly boost the university’s innovation and further enabling Researchers commercialize their research works.
He said proper legal frame work should be put in Research Policy including having a clause where researchers would be required to deposit their reach notes with the University for the purposes of consolidating, ownership and future references. This, he said, will even give Professors an opportunity of starting own companies in actualizing their researches while teaching.
The VC underscored the importance of establishing robust frameworks that supports commercialization of research findings, ensuring that innovations benefit both the university and the innovators through ownership.
Prof. Kibwage reaffirmed Egerton University's dedication to creating an environment conducive to culture of innovation, protecting creative outputs, and translating research into impactful solutions for the owners.
The KeNIA team provided insights into government policies and initiatives aimed at incentivizing innovation and protecting intellectual assets.
KeNIA team coordinator Mr. Kwame Chahca, highlighted on strategies to strengthen collaboration, improve awareness about IPR, commercialization pathways among researchers.
