The visit began with a meeting at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), where Prof. Thomas, accompanied by Dr. Susan Musembi of Kenyatta University, held in-depth discussions with Prof. Tom Ogada and Dr. Caroline Mbaya. The focus was on ACTS’ applied policy work and its Green and Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH), which supports startups and MSMEs with training in sustainability and digitalisation.
Further meetings included an exchange with Jörg Uehlin at GIZ’s Digital Transformation Centre Kenya, where they discussed best practices for connecting university innovation with industry needs in both Kenya and Germany.
At Impact Hub Nairobi, located in the inspiring Ikigai Co-Working Space, Prof. Thomas spoke with Dennis Ndungu about the support structures for early-stage ventures and also met with Nick Nderi of Impacc, a German impact startup with local teams in Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
A joint visit with Dr. Musembi to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) underscored the gap between applied academic research and SME innovation. Strengthening university-industry linkages was again identified as a crucial need.
The week concluded with a visit to Jungle Harvest Limited near Thika. Founder Kamau Mbarire shared his experiences running a solar-powered herb export business and collaborating with JKUAT researchers. As a symbolic gesture, Prof. Bayer planted a jackfruit tree on the farm, his first tree in Kenya.
The visit reinforced HNU’s ties in Kenya and opened promising avenues for future cooperation in innovation and education. The visit was funded by the European Commission as part of the Erasmus+ project UPLIFT-Ag.
