The University of Nairobi has confirmed the first Nairobi Innovation Week will take place on the week beginning August 5, bringing together government, academia, startups and other stakeholders for discussions under the theme “Innovate and Prosper”.
Nairobi Innovation Week will comprise keynote speeches in plenary sessions, policy discussions, research paper and case study presentations, roundtable discussions and exhibitions of inventions and innovations by individual innovators, startups and organisations.
Speakers already confirmed include Ministry of ICT cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiangi, businessman Manu Chandaria, University of Nairobi Prof Mbithi Peter Mulwa Felix, former Ministry of Information and Communication permanent secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo, and C4DLab lead Dr Tonny Omwansa.
“Kenya’s capacity to compete in the global market greatly depends on the ability of her people to innovate and apply the relevant technology for growth and development,” the University of Nairobi said.
“Though the government and more particularly the university has put efforts into fostering innovations, a number of these innovations and inventions are not known to the public. C4DLab, the University of Nairobi’s innovation hub will host this year’s Nairobi Innovation Week, a signature event to celebrate and recognise innovations relevant to our society.”
The plan is to involve several schools of the university, which will be used for showcasing innovations by University of Nairobi innovators, innovators from other universities, entrepreneurs, government institutions, incubation hubs, investors and invited guests from countries including Israel, the United States (US) and China.
“The occasion would also confer a platform for presentations of academic papers, showcase of successful innovation case studies,” the university said.
“Yet all is to culminate into discussion sessions touching closely on ways of making Kenya a top IT ecosystem in Africa.”
Full details of the event will be posted shortly, paving the way for a call for academic papers on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
