Innovations agency seeks nominees for awards

The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has called for nominations for the National Innovation Awards (NIA), which aim to recognise and honour innovators with remarkable achievements in diverse fields.

By FAUSTINE NGILA
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SUMMARY

• The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has called for nominations for the National Innovation Awards (NIA), which aim to recognise and honour innovators with remarkable achievements in diverse fields.
• The award consists of the Big Four Innovation Award, Assistive Technology Award and Government Agency Innovation Award.

The award consists of the Big Four Innovation Award, Assistive Technology Award and Government Agency Innovation Award.

“The purpose is to stimulate and encourage innovation in the national priority areas will play a critical role in strengthening the national innovative capacity through motivation, recognition, and support of innovators,” George Masila, KeNIA project manager for the Kenya Innovation Week, told Digital Business.

Submission of nominations will close on October 15, 2021, after which shortlisting and selection will follow. The exercise will culminate at the Kenya Innovation Week Awards Gala on December 8, 2021.

“Selected innovators will pitch during the week to an audience of investors, potential partners and customers,” he said.

Those nominated for the Big Four Innovation Award and Assistive Technology Awards target Kenyan citizens whose innovations have been in operation for at least one year.

The innovation should not have received an award from NIA and should have a demonstrable product or service with an existing market, says the State agency.

“The innovation should have a profile available online with appropriate information and an active and permanent team of two or more members,” said the KeNIA in a statement.

For the Government Agency Innovation Award, the nominees should have impactful programmes and initiatives that address existing social issues in line with the Sustainable Development Goals or initiatives that support innovators.

It should also have the ability to display a collaborative framework with the public and industry experts as well as demonstrate uptake of innovation within the organisation.

The agency must have at least developed or are in the process of developing an evidence-based approach to governance and must have established an innovative process or implemented new approaches to carry out initiatives that better serve the needs of the country,” said the innovations agency.