Diffusion and adoption of technology from research institutes and Universities in Kenya: an empirical investigation

Abstract

This report presents findings of a research whose main concern is factors which influence the diffusion and adoption or acceptability of inventions and innovations made by Kenya's publicly funded research and development institutions. The research has been carried out to study the demand and supply of inventions and innovations originating from Kenya's publicly-funded institutions, namely, the public universities and research institutes. This, of necessity, required data to be collected on the output of various types of innovations and inventions from the institutions and the demand for such innovations by the users. The strategic aim of the research is to identify policy interventions that could assist the diffusion and adoption of local inventions and innovations in the economy. The results from the studied institutions show that many R&D institutions in Kenya operate without significant interactions with the users of their results. Indeed efforts to work out modalities on how the users of research results can be involved in R&D carried out at the public research institutions have not succeeded. This has led to two glaring consequences: One - some innovations and inventions made by the institutions do not address the real needs of the intended users, Two - very many of these innovations and inventions (including those that do address the user needs) are never known by their intended users. The general public "hue and cry" that the major roadblock to these efforts is lack of an articulated government policy to effectively assist in linking researchers to the users of their results is apparently justified. If there is any policy on these matters the results from the studied institutions show that many R&D institutions in Kenya operate without significant interactions with the users of their results. Indeed efforts to work out modalities on how the users of research results can be involved in R&D carried out at the public research institutions have not succeeded. This has led to two glaring consequences: One - some innovations and inventions made by the institutions do not address the rearneeds of the intended users, Two - very many of these innovations and inventions are never known by their intended users. Our research findings have assisted us make an inroad into suggesting possible science and R&D policy interventions and how they may be expected to influence user-oriented R&D. We, however, feel that conclusive policy recommendations can only be made after the completion of phase Il which is supposed to unveil the magnitude of innovations and inventions made by publicly funded R&D institutions.