The Kenya Intellectual Property Rights Office has been directed to offer free patents to viable innovations with respect to all innovations that have emerged from the Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) Exhibitions, since 2018.
President Uhuru Kenyatta made the directive on Saturday, August 3, when he presided over the official opening of second YSK exhibition at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).
He said the country’s future lies in scientific innovations and called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that transformative innovations are adequately safeguarded.
“Further, and to encourage linkages with industry, I similarly direct a waiver of trademark fees with respect to all innovations emanating from Young Scientists Exhibitions, beginning from 2018,” the President announced.
To boost young innovators, the President announced plans to hold a national business Bootcamp within the next 9 months to refine viable innovations into commercial projects.
Amazing to witness the ingenuity of hundreds of young scientists from across Kenya at #YSKenya Opening Ceremony. President @UhuruKenyattah told them how proud he was of them and instructed his government to support them realise their innovative ideas 👏🏼👏🏼@YSTKenya @IrlEmbKenya pic.twitter.com/0Cu86lpBwR
— Lisa Doherty (@Lisa_Doh) August 3, 2019
Young Scientist Kenya (YSK) which is a joint project by the Ministry of education and the government of Ireland is aimed at promoting innovations by young scientists. This year’s exhibition attracted 235 entries and was attended by over 45,000 participants among them students from across the country.
