JKUAT Council Doubles Down on Research Commercialization - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

*JKUAT Council Chair, Dr. Onsando leads other Council members in a tree planting exercise at the university.*

The Council of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has identified the commercialization of research and innovation products as a key strategic priority. The University Governing Body has committed to providing enhanced support and guidance to the university’s management to help monetize innovations emerging from ongoing research activities.

According to the Council, commercialization of innovations remains one of the pathways to financial buoyancy, in the backdrop of inadequate capitation from the state.

Speaking at the university on Monday, April 7, 2025, JKUAT Council Chair, Dr. James Micah Onsando, emphasized that the university holds a unique and strategic position due to its dual strengths in technology and agriculture. He noted that JKUAT has developed the highest number of patents among local institutions, which, if effectively commercialized, could serve as a significant and sustainable source of revenue.

The Council Chair further noted that JKUAT is home to cutting-edge technologies with immense potential to enhance the university’s financial viability if successfully transformed into commercial products.

Currently, JKUAT has a rich portfolio of intellectual properties including twenty-six patents, twenty-one utility models, thirty-two trademarks, one industrial design and three registered copyrights – making it the leading university in Kenya, in terms of intellectual property assets.

*Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ngumi interacts with students at SAJOREC.*

JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Ngumi, noted that the university has already prototyped a number of technologies and products that are being prepared for market rollout.

Prof. Ngumi added that the university conducts research and innovation activities across seventeen thematic areas, including engineering, technology, agriculture, applied sciences, law, and social sciences.

For instance, the university is renowned for its ground-breaking tissue culture banana seedlings, which have catalysed the growth of thriving agribusiness industries in Kenya. In addition, JKUAT has played a pivotal role in the local assembly of technological devices, positioning itself as a key partner to the government in the implementation of major national initiatives such as the Digital Literacy Programme and the 2019 National Census.

The University has honed an innovation dense environment, leading to students and staff coming up with novel ideas that could be tapped to provide sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Kenya and the rest of humanity.

JKUAT’s international character exemplified by hosting of the African Union led Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI) and the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC) further makes it home to diverse talents and innovation capacity.

While at JKUAT, Council members also participated in a tree-planting exercise, supporting the university’s contribution to the government’s greening agenda. Additionally, the Council toured several key facilities on campus, including the engineering workshops and the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC).