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

2. Ministry of Science & Technology
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
Ministry of Science & Technology
Crispus M. Kiamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology

3. Ministry of Science & Technology
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
Ministry of Science & Technology

4. Ministry of Science & Technology
The Taskforce TOR
Review existing policies affecting STI and their applications in the country
Review the resources (physical, human, and financial) relating to STI in the country
Review the institutional capacities available for use of STI
Suggest policies to promote the use of STI in business and national development
Review the relevance of the current STI education needs to national needs
Identify the financing gaps for STI in various areas
Propose how to nurture values which promote the learning of STI in schools and institutions of learning
Ministry of Science & Technology

5. 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.
Ministry of Science & Technology

6. 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
Ministry of Science & Technology

7. Basis of Sector Working Groups STI Linkages to the Economy
Health and Life Sciences
Trade
&
Industry
Information and Communication Technology
Agriculture & Related
Industries
SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY
AND
INNOVATION
Physical Infrastructure
Natural Resources Management
& Energy
Mining
Manufacturing
Ministry of Science & Technology

8. 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)
Ministry of Science & Technology

9. Ministry of Science & Technology
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
Ministry of Science & Technology

10. 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”
Ministry of Science & Technology

11. The Vision, the Three Pillars, and STI
A globally competitive and prosperous nation
with a high quality of life by 2030
The Overarching vision
Vision
Strategy
Master Plan
Implementation
Economic
Social
Political
To maintain a sustained economic growth of 10% p.a. over the next 25 years
A just and cohesive society enjoying equitable social development in a clean and secure environment
An issue-based, people-centered, result-oriented, and accountable democratic political system
Strategy
Plans and implementation
Science, Technology & Innovation
Ministry of Science & Technology

12. Ministry of Science & Technology
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,
Ministry of Science & Technology

13. Kenya’s STI Status Benchmarking 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…
Ministry of Science & Technology

14. Kenya’s STI Status Explanation 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
Ministry of Science & Technology

15. 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)
Ministry of Science & Technology

16. Ministry of Science & Technology
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
Ministry of Science & Technology

17. 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;
Ministry of Science & Technology

18. 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
Ministry of Science & Technology

19. STI Strategic Objectives (Cont..)
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;
Ministry of Science & Technology

20. STI Strategic Objectives (Cont..)
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.
Ministry of Science & Technology

21. STI Strategic Objectives (Cont..)
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;
Ministry of Science & Technology

22. STI Strategic Objectives (Cont..)
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.
Ministry of Science & Technology

23. Proposed Kenya’s National Innovation System
Ministry of Science & Technology

24. Ministry of Science & Technology
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
Ministry of Science & Technology

25. Ministry of Science & Technology
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.
Ministry of Science & Technology

26. 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)
Ministry of Science & Technology

27. Ministry of Science & Technology
The end…
... Asanti sana!
Ministry of Science & Technology