The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has doubled down on its mission to position intellectual property (IP) at the heart of Kenya’s innovation economy, with strong endorsement from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Daren Tang. Speaking on Day 2 of the Kenya Startup Festival, Tang called for more inclusive and practical IP systems that support startups, researchers, and even informal sector innovators.

Tang praised the progress made by Kenya in recent years, including its climb in the Global Innovation Index and strong performance in startup fundraising. He highlighted the example of Esther Kimani, a young innovator who developed a solar-powered, machine-learning device to detect crop pests and deliver real-time advice to farmers via SMS. He stressed that innovation is no longer the preserve of wealthy nations or tech giants.

“The IP ecosystem must not be just for IP experts or startups. It must serve the hustler, the jua kali artisan, and the small business owner,” Tang said.

WIPO is supporting Kenya through a range of initiatives, including the deployment of WIPO IP Diagnostics, a free innovation tool now available in Kiswahili, and technical support to KIPI for implementing the national IP strategy. Tang emphasised the need to treat IP as a business and financial asset, helping innovators move from idea to market and ultimately build scalable ventures. He also called for integrating innovation into early education, pledging WIPO’s long-term support in the spirit of Kenya’s grassroots entrepreneurial energy.

KeNIA Board Chair Dr. Tom Migun Ogada echoed the importance of these efforts, noting that IP underpins KeNIA’s two strategic pillars: commercialisation and startup support. He acknowledged WIPO’s critical role in helping Kenya launch its IP policy and highlighted KeNIA’s ongoing work with universities, particularly through the Productivity and Innovation Accelerator (PIA).

Day 2 also featured a focused breakout on research-based startups, where KeNIA CEO Dr. Tonny Omwansa showed the impact of the Research-to-Commercialisation (R2C) program. The initiative supports researchers and innovators in bridging the gap between discovery and market-readiness. Ian Korongo, KeNIA’s Innovation and Commercialisation Manager, shared that 14 universities are now implementing innovation masterplans created with KeNIA’s guidance.

A global perspective was provided by Andrew Julius Bende of Denmark’s BioInnovation Institute (BII), which has supported over 120 science-based startups with funding, infrastructure, and mentorship, offering lessons for how Kenya might scale its own research ventures.

Additional sessions included an invite-only Corporate Deal Room and a forum on impact investment, both aimed at strengthening partnerships across sectors. A common call emerged for deeper collaboration, stronger IP systems, and policies that enable innovation at all levels of society.