It’s time to demystify Intellectual Property in Kenyan innovation
by Sheilah Birgen, Country Lead for Kenya at Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa.
With a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, sustained investor confidence, and a fast-expanding services sector, Kenya has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and the largest in the East African region by way of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)[1]. To maintain its lead, the Kenyan government is looking to technology and innovation as a strategic driver of new business development, job creation, and socio-economic growth. Considered one of Africa’s ‘Big Four’ innovation ecosystems, Kenya has made good progress in this regard, registering 250% growth year-on-year between 2020 - 2021 in terms of startup funding raised[2].
However, to maximise the impact potential of startups and in...