Knowledge Economy & Innovation (KE&I)

Konza Innovation Ecosystem Initiative (KIEI) is a quadruple-helix program bringing together Academia, Industry, Government and Civil society within the Kenyan innovation ecosystem towards growing Kenya’s Knowledge Economy. KIEI is acting as a forerunner to the physical science and technology park by simulating the interactions that will be experienced in the park.

Objectives of KIEI

The KIEI was set up as a link between the different innovation ecosystems within the country to promote collaboration and break the physical barriers through virtual interactions and activities. The program seeks to build capacity of the Kenyan youth to promote innovation in Science and Technology by encouraging uptake of Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) from an early age, supporting innovators in creative economy, agribusiness, agritech, engineering, manufacturing and human health towards moving the country to a Knowledge based economy. The program also seeks to bring together the start-ups, innovators, and the right ecosystem partners to ensure we address Food Security and affordable Universal Health care for our population in addition to realizing home grown solutions for our manufacturing sector. The program focuses on young Kenyans of both genders from a tender age with the aim of moulding them and seeing them through the entire value chain. The involvement of Government and Civil society ensures the right policy framework is in place to allow innovation to thrive. Private sector and academia on the other hand ensure unlocking of capital, creation of demand and capacity building respectively

Impact of KIEI:

So far, the program has achieved the following:

• Trained over 200 children between the ages of 9 and 15 on computer programming with follow up during every school break.
• Trained over 200 innovators in areas of innovation spread in the country on design thinking, self-branding, technology solutions to support and inspire them to grow their ideas into businesses.
• Run innovation challenges in the areas of health, agritech, smart cities and ICT where more than 20 start-ups have emerged and are currently running and thriving
• Offered prize money to the winning start-ups and innovations to encourage their growth.
• Offered incubation and acceleration services to the promising start-ups.
• Provided hardware to various innovation hubs and labs in the country to foster innovation and allow for collaboration with their colleagues around the country virtually.