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University Staff in East Africa begin innovation and incubation training

A significant step in advancing innovation is underway in East Africa as the Incubation Leadership and Innovation Management Program for Universities kicks off. This initiative, running from 11th November 2024, is part of the Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry (dSkills@EA) project.

Spearheaded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the program aims to foster stronger academia-industry collaboration and boost digital skills to support technological and innovation-driven growth across the region.

Involving 114 university staff from seven East African nations—Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The program is designed to build the capacity of university managers and technology transfer officers in innovation management and commercialization, with participants engaging in intensive training on technology transfer, intellectual property management, and the incubation of innovative ideas.

Patience Abraham, a representative from the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and the Buni Innovation Hub, highlighted the strategic focus on universities as hubs of innovation: “We chose universities because there are a lot of university students engaged in innovative activities who need support to take their ideas to market. By building the capacity of innovation managers within universities, we’re empowering them to guide these students through the journey of transforming ideas into successful businesses.”

The primary objective of this initiative is to develop a cohort of skilled professionals who can effectively lead innovation management and research commercialization within higher education institutions. As Patience Abraham further explained, “Our aim is to strengthen the capabilities of university staff in innovation leadership and intellectual property, enabling them to support innovators and startups at their institutions.”

Patience Abraham

This process is anticipated to benefit not only university staff but also the students and communities they serve.

Expected outcomes of the program include enhanced management and commercialization of intellectual property in higher education institutions, increased awareness of frameworks and policies that support a conducive technology transfer environment, and strengthened capabilities among university staff who oversee technology transfer units and intellectual property offices.

Tarvi Motsi, a seasoned expert in the creative economy and digital marketing who has been in the industry for over 20 years, shared his expectations from the training.

“I expect to see forward-thinking, interactive hub managers who take the time to understand not only the ideas within their groups but also the needs of their innovators,” he said.

Motsi emphasized the value of innovation that impacts the community: “It’s important to support ideas that serve the community and showcase Africa on the map. Something truly innovative is when you can look back and say, ‘I was part of something that helped my people grow.”

The five-day program in Kigali, hosted at E4Impact, features workshops, seminars, mentorship sessions, and innovation challenges. This setup provides a platform for participants to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and build lasting professional networks.

Tarvi Motsi highlighted the networking aspect, which he believes is critical: “With knowledge comes power, and networking is a key. Especially as Africans, we don’t share enough. Here, we’re encouraging participants to mix with others gain contacts, and learn from each other’s projects, from app development for the hearing-impaired to other social innovations. That’s the kind of cross-pollination of ideas we want to see here.”

Following the on-site training, participants will continue to benefit from a community of practice online, where they can collaborate with other innovators and experts across the East African region. This continuity ensures that the knowledge and skills gained are reinforced and that connections made extend beyond the training days.

The Incubation Leadership and Innovation Management Program is implemented with the support of multiple partners, including the Buni Innovation Hub, the SA Innovation Summit, E4Impact Foundation, Ennovate Ventures, Aclis, and Koneta Hub.

These partners, on behalf of GIZ and IUCEA, have pooled their resources and expertise to ensure that East Africa’s universities are better equipped to drive innovation and play a pivotal role in the region’s digital transformation.

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