STRI4Society Week Closes With Renewed Calls for Increased Investment in Science, Research and Innovation in Kenya
By Gedion Nzyoki -
- Kenya has renewed calls for increased investment in science, research, and innovation as STRI4Society Week 2026 officially came to a close in Nairobi.
- Leaders at the conference emphasized stronger collaboration between government, universities, industry, and global partners to drive sustainable development and economic growth.
- The week-long event brought together thousands of researchers, innovators, students, and policymakers to showcase groundbreaking ideas, partnerships, and emerging technologies shaping Kenya’s future.
Nairobi, Kenya | May 22, 2026 — The closing day of Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRI) Week in Nairobi was marked by renewed calls for Kenya to increase investment in science, research, and innovation, as leaders pushed for stronger collaboration between government, universities, industry, and global partners.
Speaking during the closing ceremony held on Friday morning at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya remains committed to placing science, technology, and innovation at the center of its national transformation agenda.
Mudavadi described the inaugural Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Society initiative as a key platform that brings together scientists, innovators, policymakers, investors, and development partners to showcase scientific excellence and advance practical solutions to societal challenges.
“Science, technology, and innovation are central components of our national development agenda,” Mudavadi said during his remarks.
He noted that the event attracted more than 5,000 participants from across Africa and other parts of the world, creating a platform for knowledge exchange, commercialization of research, and stronger international collaboration.
According to Mudavadi, the government is deliberately working to shift science and innovation from academic discussions into practical tools capable of driving economic growth, improving policy, and transforming communities.
“We must place research, invention, and educational knowledge at the heart of how we think about national progress and societal transformation,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also emphasized the need for stronger governance and coordination within the science and innovation sector, noting that the establishment of the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation would help streamline research, investment, and policy implementation.
Mudavadi further called for increased funding for research and innovation, proposing that Kenya allocate at least two percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to science and research activities.
He said increased investment would help bridge the gap between universities, research institutions, industry, and markets, enabling scientific knowledge to be translated into practical economic solutions for Kenyans.
On his part, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak, highlighted key achievements recorded during the week-long conference.
Abdulrazak said the scientific sessions featured 34 presentations spanning critical areas such as climate change, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, biodiversity, health, culture, and sustainable development.
He added that the event provided a platform for collaboration among researchers, universities, policymakers, industry leaders, and international development partners.
“The scientific sessions provided a platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, networking, and collaboration,” Abdulrazak said.
The PS also praised mentorship programs held during the conference, saying they encouraged students, particularly girls, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
According to Abdulrazak, the conference underscored the importance of closer collaboration between universities, research institutions, government, and industry in transforming research into jobs, patents, enterprises, policies, and innovative products.
He also announced the establishment of the Grand Challenge Kenya Platform, an initiative aimed at supporting locally driven scientific innovations and providing solutions to development challenges through grant funding.
Under the initiative, Kenya will support six high-risk innovation grants worth up to US$300,000 each, alongside additional funding for the most promising innovations over a five-year period.
Abdulrazak said the platform positions Kenya among countries building innovation-driven systems to accelerate scientific and technological advancement globally.
The PS further called on development partners, philanthropists, academia, industry leaders, and investors to support Kenya’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Everything You Need to Know About STRI4Society Week 2026
Held from May 18 to 22, 2026, at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre, STRI4Society Week 2026 was coordinated by the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation and brought together researchers, innovators, students, policymakers, industry leaders, and members of the public.
STRI4Society Week is Kenya’s premier platform for science, technology, research, and innovation. The event is convened by the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation in collaboration with the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation, the National Research Fund, and the Kenya National Innovation Agency.
The platform is designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and societal impact by promoting collaboration among government, academia, industry, and communities. Its primary focus is translating knowledge and innovation into practical solutions that support national development.
The week-long event served as a platform for connecting knowledge creators with end users while promoting public understanding of Science, Research, and Innovation (SRI).
It also aimed to strengthen partnerships between academia, industry, and government while increasing the uptake and commercialization of research outputs to ensure science delivers practical benefits to communities and contributes to national development.
Guided by the theme, “Igniting Innovation: Bridging Science and Society for Sustainable Development,” the event featured policy dialogues, scientific conference sessions, innovation fairs and exhibitions, youth competitions including hackathons and essay contests, innovation pitches, and industry-academia roundtable discussions.
The conference also showcased Kenyan innovation across key sectors such as digital transformation, youth STEM development, climate action, inclusive regional development, and Africa’s global collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.
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