Conference: The 1st National Science, Technology and Innovation Week

更新日:2012/05/20

Theme: Innovation Systems and Knowledge-Based Economy for National Development
Date: 7rd – 11th May, 2012

Host: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, National Council of Science & Technology

Co-Sponsor: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Nairobi Research Station, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF), Housing Finance
Venue: Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi

Participants: about 200

Executive Guests: Prime Minister Dr. Raila Amolo Odinga, Minister of Higher Education, Science & Technology Prof. Margaret Kamar, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Prof. Crispus Kiamba, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya Mr.Yoichiro Yamada, JICA Chief Representative of Kenya Office Mr. Hideo Eguchi, Director General of the Department of Science & Technology South Africa Dr. Phil Mjiwara

●　See also the 20120507Programme.
●　The papers and authors of previous conference (FY2011) is here.

Remarks

Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak PhD, FSB, FASI, MBS.

Executive Secretary, National Council of Science & Technology

Kenya’s development blueprint, Vision 2030 envisions a transformation into a newly industrialized, middle-income country providing a high quality of life in a safe and secure environment to its citizens. Vision 2030 is based on three development pillars, namely economic, social and political; and it recognizes Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) as the bedrock/foundation of these pillars.

The Government of Kenya thorough the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology (MOHEST) has developed the Kenya National Innovation Systems, which aims at ensuring that there is harmony in the identification and prioritization of ST&I policy and the implementation of ST & I programmes and projects in key sectoral areas. In pursuit of this, the national Science and Technology week has been set aside to showcase and celebrate the role of ST& I in the Socio-economic development of the country. In addition, it is to encourage the scientific community, and the public to participate in scientific engagements towards addressing critical national problems.

The main objective of the National ST&I week is to improve the understanding of the existing challenges and challenges and opportunities in National Innovation Systems and knowledge-based economic management systems. Participants of this forum will identify and document important factors to consider when designing strategies for effective linkages between the Innovation systems development and technology transfer for rapid socio-economic development of the country.

To benchmark the country’s achievements with the rest of the world using this science week, case studies on innovations and knowledge-based economic management economies from selected countries will be presented in symposia, roundtable discussions and exhibition of innovation from thematic areas identified in Vision 2030 and ST&I policy strategy documents (health, agriculture, information technology, renewable energy, water and sanitation, education, trade, industrial manufacturing and infrastructure).

In addition, we shall have a total of 30 research paper presentations, TIVET fair shows, Robot competitions, exhibitions from Innovators and finalists of the National Science Congress among high school and most importantly awarding outstanding Kenyan scientists to celebrate their achievements and to promote their efforts to transform scientific research in Kenya into entrepreneurship and attract investments.

I wish to convey my sincere appreciation on behalf of the organizing committee to all individuals and institutions that contributed to the success of this 1st ST&I week. In particular, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and technology for the budgetary and human resource support, to Japanese Society for Promotion of Science through their collaboration and financial support. Further I wish to thank all persons who participated in research paper presentations, display of innovations and products. I am sure these will go a long way in enhancing application of science and technology for socio-economic development of this country.  Thank you All.

Remarks

Soichiro Shiraishi Ph.D.

Resident Director, JSPS Nairobi Research Station

Prime Minister, Right Honorable Dr. Raila Amolo Odinga; Minister of Higher Education, Science & Technology, Honorable Prof. Margaret Kamar; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Crispus Kiamba; Chief Executive Secretary, National Council of Science & Technology, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak; the representative of the Japanese Ambassador in Kenya, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, Yoichiro Yamada; JICA Chief Representative of Kenya Office, Hideo Eguchi; Director General of the Department of Science & Technology, South Africa, Dr. Phil Mjiwara; Directors and Professors of various institutions, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen; I am very grateful to attend this special occasion as a co-sponsor of this conference. 

This conference is subsequently held the series of National Conference of previous four years, and we JSPS, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science has been the co-sponsor of them since FY 2010, after we exchanged Mou.  I believe this ST&I week also enhance fruitful academic works and development based on science and technology in this country toward Vision 2030, that’s our pleasure.  In this opportunity, let me make brief remarks about three things; firstly, who we JSPS are, secondly, the relationships we made with African countries, and thirdly, possible contribution to knowledge based development in this country. 

International collaborations between sub-Saharan Africa and Japan has its long history.  We JSPS sat Nairobi Office as one of ten overseas offices in 1965.  Though Japan is a country in Far East, we have developed high-quality African Studies based on field research owing to this background.  Actually there are no such Asian countries other than us.  Since then, JSPS Nairobi Office has carried out many missions covering sub-Saharan African countries. 

Our main mission until 1980s was supporting Japanese researchers who worked out their field researches.  But after 1990s and 2000s, we become to put effort another important mission, that is; supporting scholars, researchers, universities and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate meaningful relationships between Kenya and other African countries and Japan through Academic collaboration. 

Ladies and gentlemen, once Japan was the top donor of bilateral aid to Kenya.  But how about in these years?  Among Asian countries, China and Korea become notable donor today, it is obvious, I think all of you know the construction of Thika Road by China as well as Nairobi Western Ring Road by Japan.  But as I told, we Japan has great intellectual possession of basic research in African countries and its database for more than 40 years.  No doubt, in this aspect, we are no.1 in the Asian countries.  I think we can utilize this legacy to the quality of our aid programmes and better development of various areas in Africa. 

Let me give you an instance.  Now JICA and UNHCR promote their collaborative programme in Turkana District, I’ve heard that is about water security and others.  I introduced some Japanese researchers to JICA staffs as advisors, one of them is a professor who has done his social research in Turkana since the end of 1970s.  By using database legacy of his basic research, we can approach to the better design for sustainable development of the area.  I believe this kind of work, bridging JICA, researchers and local communities is important role of us JSPS today. 

Ladies and gentlemen, among African countries, Kenya has many Japanese researchers in various fields such as agriculture, ecology, public health, zoology, paleontology and social sciences.  We JSPS have various fellowship and research fund programmes for international collaboration; I hope more number of you will apply them. 

Most popular one is Post Doctoral Fellowships for Foreign Researchers which assist researchers after Ph.D. to do pos-doc collaborative research in Japan.  In FY 2010, we assisted 1,077 fellows from 82 countries, 54 fellows out of them are from African countries.  Other than that, we have Ph.D. Dissertation Programme which assist full-time employed researchers who doesn’t have their Ph.D., Core-to-Core programme which assist collaborative research between institutions of Japan and Africa, ITP (International Training Programme) and de-Patch Programme with JICA etc. 

There are special programme between Kenya and Japan.  Since we exchanged BoU by NCST and JICA, we are running two bi-lateral programmes.  One is for Joint research between researchers of two countries, duration of 1 to 3 years, grants up to about 5 million KSh, another is for joint seminor, grants up to about 2.5 million KSh.  We approved one project for each in these years, but we should have more applicants so that hopefully more projects will be approved. 

Well, do you know what is the point to make easier to apply these programme?  The answers is creating and maintain the networks with Japanese researchers.  We have Eastern African JSPS Alumni Association, organized by OBs and OGs of JSPS Post-Doctoral Fellows of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.   The chair is well known person, let me introduce Prof. Abdulrazak to you!!  He’s the chair of Alumni Association.  This association is the hub of networking, members will help you to connect to Japanese researchers and academic institutions. 

For more details of our programmes, please visit our website, and we will welcome you to our office in Chiromo anytime.  Ladies and gentlemen, I once more put emphasize that, we have long history of collaboration, when we say “knowledge-based development” and seek the quality of it, no doubt, to maintain and enhance our collaboration is one of the most important keys.  Let us proceed and do it.  Thank you from JSPS.  Asanteni saana.