The National Research Fund and Young Scientists Kenya are set to hold the inaugural National Research Festival from August 19-23 in Nairobi. This will be a lead-event that features over 1,000 students from 390 schools in Kenya, all exhibiting their innovative projects and research.
It is envisioned that the festival shall stir the next generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Higher Education and Research PS Beatrice Mugunda said research, science, technology and innovation were important drivers of social and economic development. “Research is central to competitiveness in a globalized and knowledge-based world. Most European and North American countries owe their development to an intensive application of recent advances in research,” she said.
Mugunda has cited the rapid industrialization of the Southeast Asian countries, in particular Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, China, and India, to the heavy investments in RSTI. She stressed that Kenya was similarly poised in harnessing the value of RSTI for the youth empowerment and Bottom-up Economic and Transformation Agenda.
According to the chief executive officer of the National Research Fund, Prof Dickson Andala, he is elated about the festival because it will be the opportunity for the Kenyan youth to demonstrate to the world their capacity to innovate and excel in scientific achievements. Over the past two years, we have witnessed the transformative power of research and innovation in driving socio-economic development,” he says. “We want to leverage this opportunity to amplify the impact of research on our society, economy, and environment.”
The event will bring together researchers, institutions, and young scientists to showcase their work. Notable projects include Kemri’s stem cell research and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation’s high-breed cow research. Andala said it remains vital that enough funding for research is provided, citing at least two percent of GDP. Currently, only about 0.8 percent is set aside.
Joyce Ngure of the Department of Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, underscored the tangible outcomes of research in everyday life. She gave examples of institutions such as Coffee Research Institute and Tea Research Foundation, which have brought forth vital farm products.
The National Research Festival will no doubt be among the most important events to fan the fire and really inspire a new generation of researchers and innovators in Kenya and bring forth the contribution of research into socio-economic development.