NRF Convenes Multistakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Research and Development
The National Research Fund (NRF) convened a multistakeholder policy dialogue on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Research and Development (R&D) on 26th February 2026 in Nairobi. The dialogue brought together representatives from government ministries and agencies, universities, TVETs, public research organizations, the private sector, innovation hubs, and development partners to explore strategies for strengthening collaboration within Kenya’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Supported by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Convening Fund, the dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to examine how structured PPPs can accelerate research commercialization, strengthen domestic research financing, and align research outcomes with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Discussions highlighted that while Kenya continues to demonstrate promising innovation outputs, particularly in entrepreneurship and digital innovation, the country’s investment in research and development remains below one percent of GDP. Participants noted that stronger partnerships between academia, research institutions, and industry are essential for translating research outputs into scalable solutions that drive socio-economic development.
Participants emphasized that effective PPPs require clear governance frameworks, transparent intellectual property arrangements, and shared investment models that support long-term collaboration. Experience from Science Granting Councils Initiative projects also demonstrated that early private sector involvement in research design significantly improves commercialization outcomes and market alignment.
The dialogue further highlighted the importance of aligning financing mechanisms with different stages of innovation development. Participants noted that while early-stage research requires foundational funding, later stages of innovation demand scale-up financing, regulatory support, and industry partnerships to move technologies from the laboratory to the market.
Strengthening institutional capacity within universities, TVET institutions, and research organizations was also identified as a priority. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen Technology Transfer Offices and improve intellectual property management systems to support commercialization and industry collaboration.
The convening generated several key recommendations, including the development of structured national PPP guidelines for research and development, strengthening institutional commercialization capacity, expanding domestic investment in research, and establishing platforms that connect researchers with industry partners.
The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of structured public–private partnerships in advancing Kenya’s science, technology, and innovation agenda. The outcomes will inform ongoing efforts by the National Research Fund to strengthen collaboration across the research ecosystem and accelerate the translation of research into practical solutions that contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.
