The Experience of the Development of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Kenya Crispus M. Kiamba Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science & Technology.

The Experience of the Development of Science,

Technology and Innovation Policy in Kenya

Crispus M. KiambaPermanent Secretary

Ministry of Science & Technology

Presentation to the Global Forum on Building Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity for Sustainable Growth

and Poverty Reduction

Washington, D.C.

12-15 February 2007

Ministry of Science & Technology 2

Outline

• The National Economic Council and the Establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on STI

• Recognition of the crucial role of STI in development • STI Linkages with the Economy and Sector Working

Groups and Lead Institutions• The Creation of the Ministry of Science and Technology • STI and the Kenya Vision 2030• The Status of STI• STI Strategic Issues• The Way Forward


The National Economic Council (NESC) and

the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce• On September 2005 NESC agreed on the crucial of STI

in the economy and proceeded to establish an Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on STI• To review the policies and strategies related to science,

technology and innovation for Kenya• Clearly this was in recognition of the role of STI in

national development and global competitiveness The ability to create, access, comprehend, select, adapt,

distribute and exploit knowledge (S&T) is usually the determinant of material well-being and quality of life, and has made possible the significant reductions of poverty, wealth creation, improvements in the quality of life and competitiveness of a society

In particular, there was a recognition that achievement of MDGs depends largely on the use of STI


The Taskforce TORReview existing policies affecting STI and their

applications in the countryReview the resources (physical, human, and financial)

relating to STI in the countryReview the institutional capacities available for use of

STISuggest policies to promote the use of STI in

business and national developmentReview the relevance of the current STI education

needs to national needs Identify the financing gaps for STI in various areasPropose how to nurture values which promote the

learning of STI in schools and institutions of learning


Taskforce Anticipated Output

• A report - a new National Science , Technology and Innovation Policy - detailing the status of science and technology in the country in terms of:-– Human, physical and financial capacities– Indication of available technologies– Scientific inputs and innovations– Technological, institutional and financial gaps– Recommendations and the way forward on the

strategies to be adopted for harnessing science and technology for development.


The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST)

• The MoST established late 2005• Immediately took over the co-ordination of the

the exercise of the development STI Policy– including an effective National Innovation System (NIS)

• Continued the use of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce and Sector Working Groups (SWGs)– worked in close consultation with the NESC

• The SWGs a reflection of close links between STI and the economy


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Natural

Resources

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Health and Life

Sciences

Manufacturing

Agriculture &

Related

Industries

Mining

& Energy

SCIENCETECHNOLOGY

ANDINNOVATION

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Trade&

Industry

Basis of Sector Working GroupsSTI Linkages to the Economy


Sector Working Groups & Lead Institutions

• Existing Policies – (Kenya Institute for Public

Policy Research)

• Agriculture and Rural Development – (Kenya Agricultural Research

Institute)

• Health and Medical Services – (Kenya Medical Research

Institute)

• Industry and Entrepreneurship – (Kenya Industrial Research

and Development Institute)

• Education – (Kenya Institute of Education)

• Information and Communication Technology – (E-Government Office)

• Physical Infrastructure – (Ministry of Public Works)

• Natural Resource Management – (Kenya Forestry Research

Institute)

• Energy– (Ministry of Energy)


Tentative STI Vision

A country that uses science, technology and innovation to foster national development and

global competitiveness

Objective/Mission

To ensure that science, technology and innovation are mainstreamed in the various sectors and

processes of the economy


STI and the Kenya Vision 2030

• STI seen as a fundamental element of the achievement of the country’s evolving new Vision 2030

Proposed Kenya Vision 2030

“A globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030”


The Vision, the Three Pillars, and STI

A globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030

The Overarching vision

Economic

To maintain a sustained economic

growth of 10% p.a. over the next 25 years

Social

A just and cohesive society

enjoying equitable social

development in a clean and secure

environment

Political

An issue-based, people-centered, result-oriented,

and accountable democratic

political system

Strategy

Plans and implement

ation

Vision

Strategy

Master Plan

Implementation

Science, Technology & Innovation


STI underpins every one of the three pillars

Economic, Social, & Political

• S&T capabilities determine the ability to, e.g.,– provide clean water and improved sanitation– improved health care– adequate infrastructure– safer food and increased agricultural productivity– better management of disasters– improved quality and increase access to education

through modern technology– new and efficient sources of energy,


Kenya’s STI StatusBenchmarking Kenya’s STI Performance

• The Indicators used to benchmark or evaluate international performance of Kenya’s STI policy and regulatory framework– Technology Achievement Index (TAI)

• Captures data on the performance of countries in creating and diffusing technology and in building a human skills base

– The ArCo Technology Index• Captures three main dimensions of technological capabilities:

the creation of technology; the diffusion of technology; and the development of human skills

– Mathematics, English and Science Performance

• This evaluation is not concluded…


Kenya’s STI StatusExplanation for Low Status

• The sector working groups (SWGs) have identified a number of issues that inhibited the effective mainstreaming of science, technology and innovation in the various sectors:– Ineffective high-level S&T leadership and ownership – Lack of long term strategic planning perspective

• Lack of coherence, consistence and efficiency of STI policies

– Absence of a strong and explicit legal and policy framework on STI development

– Poor understanding/utilization of national/indigenous knowledge/technologies/capacities


Explanation for Low STI Status (Cont..)

– Lack of links between enterprise, communities and R& D institutions – a weak “triple helix” (interactive collaboration between universities, industry and the state/government) environment

– Poor capacity to acquire global knowledge and ineffective linkages between knowledge, technology and production with global counterparts

– Unfavourable national endogenous STI environment (Limited funding; Limited public awareness of the role of STI in development; Unfavourable STI climate)

– Weak governance [i.e., existence of market-enhancing governance structure (MEGS)] which is the basis of an effective and sustainable STI (a stable macroeconomic framework; open markets and; secure private property rights; developed intellectual property regime; a secure politico-institutional foundation for formulating and implementing policy and enforcing regulations,etc)


Strategic STI Issues

• STI governance framework• Strengthening infrastructure for STI• Human resource development• Technology development, transfer and diffusion• Indigenous resources and traditional knowledge• STI for disaster management• Generation and management of intellectual property• Public communication and advocacy for STI• STI integration and collaboration• Funding measures and mechanisms• Performance assessment framework


STI Strategic Objectives

• Ensure increased awareness of science, technology and innovation in Kenya to facilitate the emergence of Kenya as a society that harnesses and enables its people to fully and effectively participate in the application of science, technology and innovation for solving problems and enhancing human welfare.

• Ensure food, agricultural, nutritional, environmental, water, health and energy security of the people Enhance the livelihoods of the people by applying modern and traditional knowledge as well as capabilities through generation and widespread application of relevant technologies in the formal and informal sectors of the economy;


STI Strategic Objectives (Cont..)

• Vigorously foster scientific research in universities and other academic, scientific, engineering and research institutions

– Centres of excellence will be built and maintained to raise the level of work in selected areas to the highest international standards.

– Provide necessary autonomy and freedom of functioning for all academic, R&D and innovation institutions so that an ambience for truly creative work is encouraged, while ensuring at the same time that the science and technology enterprise in the country is fully committed to its social responsibilities and commitments.

• Promote the use of existing new technologies, especially platform (generic) technologies that have broad application or impacts in the economy (e.g., developments in ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and new materials will have profound implications for long-term economic transformation



• Build a strong innovation system to support the whole process of innovation, rather than merely R&D– emphasising clustering and networking of interacting and/or

interconnected public and private organizations or institutions focused on the nurturing, developing and applying, and diffusing STI in Kenya

• Attract the brightest young persons to careers in science and technology. – The national innovation system will be geared to ensure grooming of

Kenyans from the youngest possible age to pursue careers and opportunities in science, engineering, technology and innovation by conveying a sense of excitement concerning the advancing frontiers, and by creating suitable employment opportunities for them.

• Promote the empowerment as well as full and equal participation of women and disadvantaged persons in all science, technology and innovation activities;



• Use the full potential of science, technology and innovation to protect, preserve, evaluate, update, add value to, and utilize the extensive traditional knowledge available in the various Kenyan communities;

• Accomplish national strategic and security related objectives, by using the latest advances in science, technology and innovation.

• Substantially strengthen enabling mechanisms that relate to technology development, evaluation, absorption and upgradation from concept to utilization.



• Promote an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime that maximises the incentives for the generation and protection of intellectual property by all types of inventors and fosters achievement of Kenya’s national development objectives. – The regime would also provide a strong, supportive and

comprehensive policy environment for speedy and effective domestic commercialization of such inventions and innovations to maximize public good/interest;

• Ensure speedy and secure access to information, at an affordable and competitive cost. – Further, creation of digitized local content, that is of Kenyan

origin and character will be prioritized;



• Promote research and application for forecasting, prevention and mitigation of emergencies and natural hazards, particularly, floods, landslides, drought, acts of terrorism, and epidemics;

• Promote international science, technology and innovation cooperation specifically targeted towards achieving the goals of national development and security, and make it a key element of our international relations;

• Integrate scientific knowledge with insights from other disciplines, and ensure fullest involvement of scientists and technologists in national governance so that the spirit and methods of scientific enquiry permeate deeply into all areas of public policy making; and

• Create an enabling environment for research, science, technology and innovation through the creation and sustenance of innovative funding mechanisms such as venture capital to fund development of new and innovative products, processes, and systems.


Proposed Kenya’s National Innovation System

Private Manufacturingand

Service Companies

Public Service SectorState Companies

Commercial BanksVenture Capitalists etc.

Technology andScience Parks

Regional Centersof Expertise Programs

Business Parks and IncubatorsEPZs, KIE, etc.

Corporate R&DStrategic Industrial Development

andIncubation Institutions

Universities, Multi-faculty UniversitiesBusiness Schools, Technical Universities

Arts Schools, Military AcademyTIVET Institutions

Research InstitutesAgricultural Research CentersIndustrial Research Centers

Municipalitiesand

Local Authorities

Regional STI andEconomic Development Centers

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STI Infrastructure Fund

NC-STI PolicyM&E

Private SectorR&D Other Organizations

Science & Technology Line Ministries

National Economic and Social CouncilPAC-STI

THE PRESIDENTOther Organizations

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Way Forward

• A Workshop of the SWGs & Expert Resource Persons was held on November 2006

• An early draft national STI policy document has been developed– With broad and sector specific and focused policy

objectives and strategies– with a propose National Innovation System

• The establishment of some of the new institutions being fast-tracked through the ongoing exercise of the review and harmonization of the legal framework for education, training and research

– Some of the details of STI activities and programmes being refined and finalised by the SWGs


Way Forward (cont..)

• About to embark on a peer review with both national and international STI/NIS policy experts

• A final SWGs Workshop scheduled during March 2006• A National STI Stakeholders Conference planned for end

March 2006• Final Policy document expected during April 2006• Cabinet and Parliamentary approval between April and

June 2006– Cabinet Memorandum and a Sessional Paper on STI

• Launching and circulation to the stakeholders for implementation by end June.


The President, the Vision 2030 and S&T

“The economic performance of any country is closely tied to the application of science and technology... However

there is … serious limitations in application of technology…This is a serious weakness in our

development strategy, which requires urgent attention… It is important that the Vision Strategy which is being

developed, is geared towards enhancing Kenya’s scientific and technological capacity, inculcating scientific

culture, and integrating science and technology in our production and services sectors”

(Extract from the speech of H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki, the President of the Republic of Kenya on the occasion of the official launch of the Vision 2030,

Nairobi, 30th October 2006)


The end…

... Asanti sana!

The Experience of the Development of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Kenya Crispus M. Kiamba Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science & Technology.

Documents

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