2ND CARTA VICE CHANCELLOR'S MEETING CARTA 2ND VICE CHANCELLORS MEETING REPORT | Page 27

© Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) & University of Nairobi (UoN)
5. A Technology Transfer Office is critical for each university and this should be mandatory by
law. However, a study conducted globally shows that many universities spend more time and
money following bureaucracies of technology transfer offices and end up producing little
publications. Technology transfer has to happen but universities could consider sharing tech
transfer office facilities and costs.
Prof. Peter M.F. Mbithi – Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi
UoN has initiated an annual event dubbed the ‘Nairobi Innovation Week’, which is a vehicle
for the university to work with industry and have startups incubated by industries. UoN has
engagements with international companies like IBM to take up incubation of exemplary ideas
and innovations from students.
Prof. Alex Ezeh, Co-Director, CARTA
Does UoN work with the Kenya intellectual property office and has it considered working
with external IP bodies?
Prof. Lucy Irungu – Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension), UoN
1.
UoN works closely with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). The IP manager at UoN
was formerly working with KIPI and has helped to operationalize the setup of the IP office.
However, it takes about 1-2 years to get the intellectual property registered; the process is too
long and bureaucratic.
2. UoN could consider working with an external IP body like the Zimbabwe Intellectual
Property Office in Harare but UoN strives to promote the local IP office despite the challenges
faced.
3. The cost of IP registration is also another challenge because it is expensive. However, the UoN
meets the cost of IP registration for all researchers at the university. The UoN has received
funding from World Intellectual l Property Organization (WIPO) to carry out an IP audit in all
the 6 colleges in the university. This is the first such audit in African Universities.
Prof. Steven Tollman, Director, Agincourt
1.
There is a lot of pressure on creating public goods in public health. Data is becoming a great
commodity and its importance has increased tremendously. Smart configuration of data can
strengthen universities’ negotiations with regional and international collaborations. Each
research collaboration must contribute to PhD students training.
2. Many research-granting bodies in the UK do not necessarily in their grants include money for
postdoctoral training. Negotiation has to be sought so that such training is also funded.
3. Staff should be given incentives to conduct research. Development partners like SIDA and
NORAN have been supporting PhD training and Makerere University has had increased
numbers of their staff enrolling for PhDs. Governments must begin showing interest in training
PhD students.
4. Development partners such as SIDA and NORAN also support research. Unfortunately, most
research is skewed towards science disciplines as opposed to humanities.
Prof. Osman Sankoh – Executive Director –INDEPTH Network
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CARTA’s 2 nd Vice Chancellor’s Meeting –Report of meeting proceedings – July 10-11, 2017