The Engineering and Science Complex (ESC) Innovation Pillar has taken a major step in strengthening innovation at the University of Nairobi by hosting a three-day workshop from September 22nd to 24th, 2025, in Naivasha. The forum focused on designing an Innovation Business Model to guide the operations of the Innovation Community of Excellence (CoE) and inform the business approach of other ESC CoEs.

Convened by the Faculty of Business, the workshop brought together key university leaders, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance, Planning and Development) and Head of the Innovation Pillar, Prof. Jackson Maalu, the Director of University Advancement, Prof. George Abong, the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. Leonidah Kerubo, and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Syphila Mumenya, alongside members of the Innovation Pillar.

In their remarks, Prof. Kerubo and Prof. Abong stressed the need for the model to be practical, inclusive, and sustainable, creating room for interdisciplinary collaboration, strong industry linkages, and a culture where students, faculty, and innovators co-develop solutions.

By the close of the workshop, participants had produced a comprehensive blueprint positioning the ESC as a hub for entrepreneurial thinking and real-world solutions. The Innovation Business Model is expected to ensure that research outputs in engineering and science not only expand knowledge but also evolve into enterprises and solutions that contribute to Kenya’s development and enhance global competitiveness.