Stuck on the road to the market: Why Kenya suffers from stunted innovations
This discussion paper (PDF) by Scinnovent Centre, sought to interrogate the challenges facing innovators in Kenya with a view to making recommendations to the various actors within the national innovation system on the various kinds of support required to ensure Kenyan innovators meet their full potential. A research survey was conducted to capture views on a range of issues including intellectual property rights; financing; market access; receptivity of the market to local innovation; policy support; role of the private sector and role of universities and other training institutions. The paper recommends the need for government to (i) fast-track the establishment of venture capital to fund innovation and provide tax credits for investments in R&D; (ii) spearhead preferential purchasing of locally manufactured products through its procurement policies; (iii) entrench technology and business incubation centres in all the technical training facilities; and (iv) enhance awareness, sensitization, and support for intellectual property rights protection.