NRF Strengthens Biotechnology Capacity Through Biotechnet II Regional Workshop

The National Research Fund (NRF) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing biotechnology research and innovation following its participation in the Biotechnet II Workshop and Information Meeting on Research and Biotechnology Developments held on January 23.

NRF was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dickson Andala, at the forum hosted in Kenya by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). The meeting formed part of the Biotechnet II regional initiative coordinated by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and funded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS).

Biotechnet II is a multi-country programme running from 2026 to 2029, designed to strengthen biotechnology capacity and scientific expertise across Eastern Africa. The initiative will support research grants, training programmes, scientific workshops, and fellowships, contributing to the development of sustainable research systems in partner countries, including Kenya.

NRF’s engagement in the workshop highlights its role in promoting responsible research, ethical scientific practice, and stronger national research governance frameworks. As the agency mandated to mobilize and finance research, NRF continues to foster strategic partnerships that build local research capacity while accelerating innovations aligned with Kenya’s development priorities and real-world impact.