Kenya’s R2C programme mobilises US$4.7M and 438 jobs from university research

KENYA – The R2C Programme, a national initiative running from 2022 to 2025, has mobilised US$4.68 million (KES 605.6 million) in capital and supported 438 jobs, 76% of whom are women, by bridging the long-standing gap between academic research and market-ready innovation.

Led by the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), implemented by Viktoria Ventures under the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Programme, and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), R2C demonstrates that strengthening institutions, not just funding projects, can bring significant economic gains.

The programme was designed to tackle a persistent challenge: despite Kenya’s strong research output, few innovations reached the market due to weak governance, fragmented commercialisation efforts, and underpowered Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs).

“R2C’s evidence is clear: investing first in leadership alignment and governance reform unlocks sustainable commercialisation pathways and delivers greater value for money,” said Mark Lawler, Team Lead of The RISA Fund.

Addressing Kenya’s Innovation Paradox

Kenya has invested heavily in agriculture, health, climate resilience, manufacturing, and digital technology. Yet commercialisation has remained sporadic, often driven by individual champions rather than robust institutional systems.

R2C worked directly with universities and national actors to embed commercialisation as a core mandate. It strengthened governance structures, operationalised intellectual property policies, and empowered TTOs.

“These results are not one-off wins,” said Dr Tony Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA. “They reflect systemic change and predictable pathways that link universities, markets, and finance.”

A History of Missed Opportunities

Kenya’s struggle to commercialise research is not new:

2005–2010: The University of Nairobi and JKUAT pioneered tissue-culture bananas and drought-resistant maize, but projects stalled due to a lack of commercialisation funds.

2012: Egerton University developed livestock vaccines against East Coast Fever, yet regulatory delays blocked rollout.

2015: Moi University designed biogas digesters and clean cookstoves, but a lack of private-sector investment prevented scaling.

2018: Maseno University published promising research on herbal pharmaceuticals, but weak IP protection left findings unused.

2025: South Eastern Kenya University documented ICT and biotech innovations, but governance gaps and lack of seed capital hindered commercialisation.

Experts warn that Kenya allocates only 0.8% of GDP to R&D, far below the 2% target set in the Science, Technology and Innovation Act. Without stronger funding structures, IP frameworks, and academia-industry partnerships, decades of research risk remaining on library shelves instead of reaching the marketplace.

R2C was designed after evidence showed earlier investments raised awareness but failed to build lasting systems. By engaging leadership and embedding commercialisation into governance, the programme aligned reforms with Kenya’s emerging innovation architecture.

“R2C helped shift commercialisation from an abstract concept to an operational function within universities,” said Stephen Gugu, Co-founder and Director at Viktoria Ventures.

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