Prof. Benard Aduda- Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Research and Extension today opened a specialized training on filing of patent protection organized by the directorate of Research of Egerton University.
In his opening remarks, Prof Aduda emphasized the importance of innovation and intellectual property rights in fostering a culture of creativity among students.
“At the moment, there is a lacuna in the existing laws on protection of innovations in kenya. University on its prat, has policies in place to protect innovations and clear benefit- sharing on the money from innovations between University and innovators. In addition, University was ready to support student innovators and their innovations,” he said.
The two days training aims to equip students with essential practical knowledge and skills to navigate the patent application process, encouraging them to protect their inventions and ideas and also to equip knowledge on how to produce students innovators.
Prof. Aduda told students to be careful with their innovations and not to exhibit or reveal but first patent for intellectual property. He further encouraged them to work closely and partner with the University to protect and better their innovations.
The training is focused on the filing and protection of patent rights for students innovations at Egerton University.
The workshop brings together; Staff, students from diverse Faculties, the students Led Innovation Club members at Egerton University. Also in the training are Students mentors various faculties. Notably, the innovators emenate from Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Law and the Faculty of Education.The Students Led Innovation Club is led by their president Matheus Mutua.
The DVC emphasized on the need for students to be weary of people out there spying for patents expiries to steal, renew and run away with the rights of other people innovations.
This initiative reflects the university’s commitment to nurturing innovative talents and supporting students in transforming their ideas into commercially viable patents.
Other areas students will be trained on include; Understanding Intellectual Property, Egerton University IPR policy and implementation Infrastructure, Understanding non-disclosure Agreement and Administrative and Intellectual commercialization pathways.
Present at the official opening of the training were; Prof George Owuor – Director, Research and Extension, Dr James Momanyi- Technology Transfer officer at Directorate of Research and Extension who is also the chair of Innovation Club-Egerton, Dr Nancy Matheri- CoD Engineering Dept. and Hillary Korir- Patent Examiner at Kenya Industrial property Institute who is also lead trainer for the two day training.
Later students and staff were presented with certifies of participation form the previous training and University Innovation Challenge 2025. Certificates were true demonstration of the active participation of students and staff in the promotion of innovation at the University.
