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.
Citation
ATPS Policy Brief, July f997Publisher
Department of Commerce, University of Nairobi