Some of the projects that have been brought to life by the hub
Climate Entrepreneurship Hub
The objectives of the study include; Project Goal is to identify promising social entrepreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa and provide them with the critical training and resources needed to grow and scale their businesses and their impact. The project seeks to improve the efficacy and capacity of entrepreneurial support organizations (incubation hubs, accelerators, etc) working with climate startups. Project Objectives are to, recruit promising climate-focused entrepreneurs from Kenya and across Sub-Saharan Africa and the continent and convene them in a dedicated space for training to increase their capacity to develop and scale solutions to the climate crisis; connect entrepreneurs to sources of capital, increasing founders’ ability to deploy and scale innovations; conduct public programming for a broader group of founders interested in climate resilience and adaptation; support capacity building among innovation hubs in academic and research centers and other entrepreneurial support organizations seeking to serve climate-focused entrepreneurs. The project partners are, Halcyon House, 3400 Prospect Street, NW, Washington Sndbx Incubation Hub, Nairobi, Kenya The amount awarded is 49,315 USD with co-funding contribution of 7,980 USD and the awarding institution is the US Government, Department of state, Climate Solutions and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Fund. The project is coordinated by Maina Mwangi at the Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre.
Universities Promoting Linkages For Impactful Training, Innovation and Technology Transfer (UPLIFT) in Agriculture (UPLIFT-Ag)
The objectives of the study include; The UPLIFT-Ag will support a multilateral partnership to implement actions that will improve the relevance, quality, modernization and responsiveness of agricultural higher education in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Zimbabwe such that they: Collaborate and partner effectively with industry and other sector actors in executing their mandates for increased impact; Implement improved teaching methods and approaches integrated into innovative curricula to provide a competency based agriculture education that transfers technical and soft skills effectively; Conduct high quality research and innovation and are able to harvest, protect and commercialize their IP successfully. support capacity building among innovation hubs in academic and research centers and other entrepreneurial support organizations seeking to serve climate-focused entrepreneurs. The project partners are: Kenyatta University, Chuka University, Taita Taveta University in Kenya; University of Rwanda and University of Lay Adventists of Kigali in Rwanda; Université de Ngozi and Université du Burundi in Burundi; Chinhoyi University of Technology and Zimbabwe Open University in Zimbabwe; Hochschule Neu Ulm in Germany; Universita' Politecnica delle Marche in Italy and University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with private sector actors and other development practitioners in each of the four African countries. The lead industry anchor in Kenya is the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance., The amount awarded: 789,900 Euro by EUROPEAN EDUCATION AND CULTURE EXECUTIVE AGENCY, Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education programme. The 3 year project is coordinated at Kenyatta University, by Prof. Maina Mwangi of the Department of Agricultural Science and Technology and Director, Innovation Incubation and Industry Linkages.
Technology Transfer and Commercialization of University Intellectual Property (TT-CUIP) project
Kenyatta University is implementing the Technology Transfer and Commercialization of University Intellectual Property (TT-CUIP) project. The project contributes to improving technology transfer and the commercialization of intellectual property at Kenyatta University (KU) as well as University of Rwanda (UR). Through capacity building, the TT-CUIP project supports the two partner universities in developing strong links with industry and encouraging their staff to commercialise their innovations and research results. The goal is to build strong links with industry and help university staff bring their innovations and research results to market by creating start-ups. An entrepreneurial mindset and in-depth knowledge of the legal and institutional framework are taught.
Factual Report 2022: Project TT-CUIP
In July 2022, a delegation of transfer managers from KU and UR travelled to Neu-Ulm to benchmark different approaches and business models of university-industry linkages and startup support. The delegates visited various institutions in southern Germany. The comparison enables them to transfer promising approaches to their own context. In September, project leader Prof. Dr. Thomas Bayer conducted a technology transfer workshop for senior management and a lecturer training in application-oriented teaching and research in Kenya and Rwanda. First, university managers from UR and KU convened in Kigali for an interactive workshop about technology transfer and commercialization of university intellectual property. The three universities exchanged best practices and experiences in the area of technology transfer. In addition, the delegates visited relevant labs, the incubation center and successfully incubated start-ups.
National Young Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme
The State Department for Labour and Skills Development in the Ministry of Labour is mandated to promote skills development to fulfil the growing need in Kenya for quality and relevant skills across sectors. In this regard, the Government initiated collaboration with Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre to launch an innovation and entrepreneurship training programme. Throughout this programme, youths from the 47 counties in Kenya embarked on a transformative journey, gaining valuable insights, refining their business acumen and developing a mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities. They acquired the knowledge and skills needed to identify problems, create innovative solutions and navigate the complexities of the entrepreneurial landscape. But beyond the technical aspects, they also honed their leadership abilities, nurtured their resilience and learned the importance of collaboration and adaptability.
Industry Meets Talent
IndustryMeetsTalent is an initiative run by Next Arabia in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Kenyatta University and Dx5 focusing primarily on three areas: aligning training in universities and TVETs to industry market needs; building competencies for the jobs of today and the future; and incorporating core entrepreneurial skills into training of talents. This initiative aims to more effectively utilise innovation capabilities that exist in Universities and TVETs to provide solutions for specific pain points and constraints to business growth in diverse industry sectors. The hallmarks of this initiative are action-oriented training, coaching and impactful industry engagement. Teams from universities and TVETs were invited to propose innovative solutions to specified industry pain points.
Eagles Nest Television Programme
The State Department for Labour and Skills Development is mandated to oversee skills development among actors and establish and manage institutional frameworks for linking industry skills development and training. The Department has developed the Eagles Nest TV program in collaboration with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenyatta University, Kenya Industrial Property Institute and the National Youth Enterprise Fund. The goal of the program is to empower young innovators to commercialise their innovations and thus become innovations-driven entrepreneurs towards enhancing their employability and productivity. Just like eagles, the project focuses on incubating startups and nurturing them, providing the necessary support to help them spread their wings and soar in the market. Baby eagle's are thrown out the nest to fly. The show recognizes that not all startups will survive the challenges they face, but we encourage participants to embrace adversity, learn from it, and emerge stronger. Eagles are renowned for their strength, agility, and majesty. Similarly, The Eagle's Nest brings together the biggest names in the business world to serve as judges and investors. The Eagle's Nest is a business reality TV show targeting youth aged 18- 35 years. The show is based on self-employment through innovation and entrepreneurship. It will take up a competitive format with elimination at different stages of the show and a prize fund of Kshs. 5,000,000
Digital Skills for Employment (DS4E) Training Programme
Kenyatta University recently signed a MoU with the African Centre for Women Information and Communication Technology (ACWICT) to offer training on digital skills to KU students. ACWICT is a Kenya-based organisation, with a regional reach whose mission is to promote women and youth access to and knowledge of ICTs as tools for sustainable development. The organisation reaches over 25,000 women and youth annually and has trained over 178,000 youth in various ICT skills to date with 70% placed into internships, jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. ACWICT played a role in developing the national training curriculum and mentorship strategy for the Ajira Digital Program of the Government of Kenya, in which KU participated. The DS4E training will be offered to interested KU students at no cost and will include skills in coding and programming, digital workspace and freelancing, digital literacy and entrepreneurship, cybersecurity essentials and STEM initiative workshops where local and global professionals will speak on job market projections and skills for future job market needs. The training emphasises participation of female students to promote gender equity and empower women through the technology and digital sectors, which are traditionally male-dominated fields. ACWICT is collaborating with Microsoft to provide the training, they have been granted proprietary licences by Microsoft for learners to access a variety of free education resources and for developing digital innovations and products.
Partnering for sustainable e-mobility future
Kenyatta University signed a memorandum of understanding with Arc Ride Kenya Limited in electric vehicle technology. This partnership will provide a platform for teaching, supervision, staff and student exchange, scholarships, international seminars and conferences, exchange of materials, support and/or facilities for students and staff as a formal element of a degree or programme especially the School of Engineering and Technology." Arc Ride Kenya Limited specializes in the mass adoption of electric two and three wheelers in rapidly growing African cities. The company designs, builds and grows the leading battery-as-a-service business across Africa. To provide affordable, reliable and clean e-mobility solutions for rapidly developing African cities, the company has in place swapping cabinets which allow affordable, reliable and clean access to ride all day. The cabinets allow a rider to swap a battery with a fully charged one at a fee. This saves time and money since a rider does not have to wait for a battery to be charged. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and the need for cleaner energy alternatives, the rise of electric mobility or e-Mobility, has emerged as a promising solution. With advancements in technology and growing environmental consciousness, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained momentum, offering a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation. While e-Mobility holds immense potential, several challenges need to be addressed for widespread adoption. These include the expansion of charging infrastructure, addressing range anxiety, enhancing battery technology, and ensuring access to clean energy sources. Governments, businesses, and stakeholders must collaborate to overcome these challenges and create an enabling environment for e-Mobility to flourish. e-Mobility represents a transformative shift towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future of transportation. With its potential to reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and drive technological innovation, e-Mobility offers a pathway to combat climate change and improve air quality. By embracing electric vehicles and supporting the development of robust charging infrastructure, Arc Ride Kenya Limited and Kenyatta University can collectively drive towards a future where mobility is efficient, eco-friendly and in harmony with the planet.