The Global Innovation Index (GII), which measures growth in the multi-faceted dimensions of innovation, placed Kenya among the top 5 most innovative countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2017.
Kenya was in the lead in East Africa with a score of 31 points, followed
by Tanzania (28), Rwanda (27), Uganda (27) and Burundi (21) according to the
survey.
Kenya’s advancements in FinTech, Telecoms, and other sectors, have been
lauded across the continent and around the world. Yet, to maintain this upward
trajectory, a balanced regulatory framework and support from a diverse set of
actors will be critical to eliminate the risk of slowing innovation.
In the fiscal year 2016/17, the
Kenyan Government spent Sh3.5 billion (equivalent to 0.05 per cent of its GDP) on research, science, technology and innovation
combined. The adoption of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Act 2013
prioritises the development of science, technology and innovation through the
Kenya National Innovation Agency, the National Research Fund (NRF), and the
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. The Act also
provides that the Kenyan Treasury should allocate two per cent of the country’s
GDP to the NRF, which is yet to become a reality.
Apart from funding, Kenyan
entrepreneurs often lack dedicated resources that are critical for product
design and development.
Many entrepreneurs in the country
have an abundance of brilliant ideas but lack the tools and space to design
and make products, and the training and mentorship to advance their
enterprises. For hardware entrepreneurs, it is especially difficult to develop
polished prototypes that can attract external investment and drive business
growth.
With an eye on this market gap,
Gearbox, a center for hardware prototyping, stepped in to provide entrepreneurs
with the appropriate tools and training that will improve their creative
journey. With a financial grant from the Autodesk Foundation and donated
software from Autodesk, Gearbox can provide mechanical and electrical engineers
and makers with the software and training they need to create - while saving
them time and money.
Founded and facilitated by
qualified engineers and certified trainers, Gearbox provides a space for
individuals who are skilled but do not have access to the kind of machinery
that they need to make their products. Members have access to welding
equipment, 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters and more.
The rapid evolution of technology
is disrupting almost every industry providing Kenyan entrepreneurs with
significant benefits in terms of cost savings and improved design and
development. In the world of engineering, makers can shave off half the time
spent on analysis and decision-making by leveraging new technologies. Reliance on
traditional project management tools often results in lost productivity. By
understanding the unique needs of designers and engineers, Autodesk has built
cloud collaboration tools geared for design and engineering projects.
Several start-ups addressing different
societal needs are leveraging modern tools and space provided by Gearbox and
are achieving success.
The EsVendo Project is a good
example. Created by Kenyan social entrepreneur Esther Mwangi, it aims to
increase women's access to low cost sanitary products through the introduction
of custom vending machines for as little as ten shillings. The project targets
rural and urban settlements that have limited access to shopping malls,
hospitals, and schools and has created a local solution to an issue by
leveraging specific hardware technology.
In addition, EsVendo has integrated
vending tools with mobile SMS technology to educate and inform customers, and
lower the cost of sanitary towel delivery to women living in Kenyan slums.
For innovation to continue to
flourish in Kenya, it is essential to create an environment that is conducive
for entrepreneurs to make their ideas a reality. No single party can accomplish
this objective alone. The public sector, private sector, and academia need to
work together to cover existing gaps in physical resources, mentorship, and
financing to keep fuelling the upward trajectory of innovation in the country.
The writer is the Head Mechanical Engineer, Gearbox
No comments:
Post a Comment