State earmarks Sh10 million to equip research institutions
Kenya’s economic blueprint, Vision 2030, recognised science technology and innovation as a key foundation whose application could raise productivity and efficiency across all sectors.
The government has earmarked Sh10 million to support local research institutions.
The funding channelled through the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) will go towards purchase and installation of new equipment at the institutions.
Already, the council has invited applications for the funding from universities, research institutions and government departments engaged in research in a paid up advertisement.
The support was meant to help the institutions to acquire optimum equipment necessary for research as part of capacity building in science technology and innovation, said the secretary of NCST, Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat.
Apply for fund Prof Shaukat said that the country’s economic blueprint, Vision 2030, recognised science technology and innovation as a key foundation whose application could raise productivity and efficiency across all sectors.
Local institutions are expected to apply for the fund indicating the kind of equipment to be purchased and installed, and the expected benefits to the host institution and other institutions.
Also to be stated is the institution’s capacity to maintain the acquired equipment and mechanisms for access to the equipment by other institutions and individual researchers.
The planned funding has drawn praise from the scientific community. The deputy director of the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Dr Richard Abila, said it would contribute towards strengthening the country’s research.
Access equipment Dr Abila noted that many research bodies presently depend wholly on donor funding to carry out their programmes.
But most donor programmes, he said, did not support acquisition of specialised equipment by the research bodies. “Our institutions have well trained personnel, but lack essential facilities,” he said, adding that this had hampered research development.
Scientists, however, say that the government’s planned support towards is a drop in the ocean.
“It is too little, but it will go a long way in boosting research,” he said.
He however said that there was need to increase the allocations towards research if the funding was to have a huge impact as research equipment is expensive.
Presently, the government only supports the research bodies through paying the salaries of its personnel.
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