The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has announced the launch of phase 2 of the Research to Commercialization (R2C) Accelerator Programme.
The initiative is conducted in partnership collaboration with ViKtoria Ventures, with funding from the Foreign Commonwealth Development office through the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund. The R2C Accelerator is designed to fortify the commercialization process within Kenyan universities and research centres, with an aim of enhancing researchers’ capacity and institutional capability in taking research outputs to market.
In Phase 1 of the R2C program, 11 training sessions were successfully concluded, totaling 312 hours of training. Notably, 38 Trainers of Trainers (TOT) were trained from 21 institutions, extending the program’s reach to over 400 participants through a cascaded training module. Additionally, over 20 funding opportunities were facilitated for innovators, resulting in a significant fundraising achievement of 43 million Kenyan Shillings.
The R2C Program phase 2 will feature a 6-month Accelerator Program providing intensive training to researchers on matters such as business formation, intellectual property, and go-to-market strategies alongside mentorship and commercialization support. The program will also include institutional support, which includes training of Trainers of Trainers (TOT) from various institutions, capacity building of Vice Chancellors, and Policy and funding support. It will also include marketing and communication to help showcase the innovators and transformative measures that institutions take to promoting research commercialization.
Dr. Tonny Omwansa, the CEO of KeNIA, emphasized the organization’s commitment to utilizing innovation for job and wealth creation. He highlighted KeNIA’s dedication to cultivating an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Kenya. “Initiatives such as the R2C Accelerator aim to connect research with market success, unlocking the complete potential of the country’s intellectual capital.” Said Dr. Omwansa.
He expressed anticipation for the positive impact that phase 2 of the program will have on driving growth through innovation and fostering job creation.