SGCI News
The National Research Fund (NRF) leadership, last week, joined the principal secretary of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Haukat Abdulrazak, on a strategic visit to Konza Technopolis,…
The National Research Fund (NRF) leadership, last week, joined the principal secretary of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Haukat Abdulrazak, on a strategic visit to Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship innovation ecosystem and a cornerstone of the country’s ambition to become a knowledge-based economy.
The visit, led by NRF chief executive officer Dickson Andala, offered a first-hand look at the remarkable transformation taking place at Konza, often referred to as Kenya’s Silicon Savannah.
During the visit, the discussion centered on the role of Konza’s Digital Hub in supporting a national research repository and a Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Observatory, as well as its potential to position Kenya as a continental innovation hub.
The delegation also engaged with the leadership of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST) on postgraduate training, advanced research, and capacity building.
For Andala, the visit reinforced the central role of the National Research Fund in bridging policy, research, and innovation. He reaffirmed NRF’s commitment to supporting high-quality research, fostering innovation, and enabling commercialisation pathways that ensure research outcomes deliver tangible benefits for society.
From an SGCI perspective, the visit mirrors broader continental conversations on the need for robust national research systems, coordinated funding mechanisms, and strategic infrastructures that support research uptake and impact.
As SGCI member councils continue to share experiences and lessons across Africa, Kenya’s evolving innovation landscape offers valuable insights into how targeted investments and policy alignment can accelerate progress.
Please check out the stories and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you!
Let’s continue the conversation on our social media
Published on 19 January 2026
Related News
Gambia workshop tackles research funding gaps
Research funding alone cannot fix a research system without investment in people, systems and institutions; this was the central message driving a three-day capacity-strengthening workshop held in The Gambia. The workshop, held from 4–6 August, was organised by the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF)…
STISA-2034: Multi-country research partnerships for greater impact
Africa’s development challenges, from climate resilience to health system strengthening to inclusive digital transformation, rarely stop at national borders. Many of the issues facing communities across the continent require evidence, expertise and solutions that can be developed and tested across different contexts. This is why…
Ghana’s research lead wins continental recognition
Eric Danquah, Chairman of the Ghana National Research Fund’s (GNRF) Governing Board, has been elected a Fellow of the Liberia Academy of Sciences (LAS), a distinction recognising his contributions to plant genetics, crop improvement, and agricultural research across Africa. His work has shaped institutions, trained…
Research and Resources
SGCI funded projects
Rwanda’s integrated approach to sustainable agriculture and nutrition
Project Titles & Institution Areas of Research Number of Projects being funded Project Duration Grant Amount In-Kind Distribution Council Collaboration with other councils
