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The landmark Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Society Week (STRI4Society Week 2026) brought together research institutions, universities, private sector players and global partners including the European Union and Italy in Nairobi to spotlight the role of science and innovation in sustainable development.

The event, Kenya’s inaugural flagship platform for showcasing scientific excellence, technological breakthroughs and innovative solutions, emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in science, technology, research and innovation to keep pace with rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, genomics and clean energy technologies.

Held under the theme “Igniting Innovation: Bridging Science, Technology and Society for Sustainable Development,” the week sought to move beyond showcasing research outputs and innovations to demonstrate their role in shaping the future of society and the economy.

Convened by the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation (SDSRI), the event brought together researchers, innovators, industry leaders, policymakers, students and communities in an effort to connect science with everyday life and national development priorities.

According to Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Shaukat Abdulrazak, science, technology, research and innovation are critical drivers of Kenya’s transformation into a globally competitive and industrialized nation.

He noted that Kenya must move beyond fragmented innovation efforts towards a nationally coordinated ecosystem linking universities, industries and government institutions.

“Research must move from publication to production, from labs to industry, from ideas to enterprises, from innovation to impact,” he said.

Abdulrazak further noted that countries making significant investments in science and innovation continue to lead in global trade, healthcare, food systems and geopolitical influence.

He added that the STRI4Society initiative is anchored in Kenya Vision 2030, the Medium Term Plan IV and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), positioning science, technology, research and innovation as catalysts for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Speaking during the event, Henriette Geiger, the European Union ambassador to Kenya, emphasised that Kenya possesses immense creative potential and growing competitiveness on the global stage.

She lauded the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation for prioritising science and innovation as essential pillars for economic transformation.

Geiger noted that Kenya compares favorably with many countries in the region due to its vibrant innovation culture and youthful talent pool, although stronger support systems are still needed to transform research ideas into commercially successful products and industries.

She further highlighted opportunities available through the Horizon Europe Programme, which enables African researchers and institutions to collaborate with European partners and access research grants, including funding specifically reserved for Africa.

“Many probably do not know that the European Union has the largest public research fund in the world,” Geiger said. “This fund is completely accessible to Africa as long as you find a partner in the European Union.”

The discussions at STRI4Society Week 2026 reflected growing recognition that Kenya’s future competitiveness will depend not only on innovation itself, but also on the country’s ability to finance, commercialise and scale research-driven solutions.