Q&A: University-industry link key to renewables innovation

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Kenyan universities should partner with industry to address their specific needs via research and innovation, states Eng. David Masara, a Kenyan lecturer and researcher, in this week's interview. He argues that the renewable energy sector is hampered by a lack of adequate funding to translate research and innovation into commercial applications. 

• Eng. Masara studied at the University of Eldoret and pursued his master's degree in mechanical engineering at Alexandria University in Egypt, where he specialised in design. He has several publications and two patents on his research work.

• He believes that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have a major role to play by providing the technical hands-on skills to complement universities.

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Universities in Kenya have been accused of being lacklustre in research and innovation. As a lecturer, share your experience.

Eng. Masara: I would disagree. Universities are doing a lot but don't get much public attention. There are specific departments dedicated to supporting research and innovation. Universities provide annual research grants to support both students and teaching staff. Though sometimes this funding might not be enough to fully develop the innovations for commercial use cases. Universities engage with strategic partners to secure external funding in such instances.

If proactive, please tell us about any research or innovation currently being undertaken or that has been undertaken before at your university. 

Eng. Masara: There are numerous research projects, many originating from student work. The focus areas vary as we aim to teach students how to identify problems across different sectors and develop appropriate engineering solutions.

How frequently is the curriculum updated to incorporate the latest advancements in renewable energy technologies and industry trends?

Eng. Masara: Curricula take longer to be updated, but they are designed to have room for emerging technologies and industry trends. If you look at the number of universities, talking generally, we have these renewable energy courses in place, and even some have introduced the sustainable energy aspect. Universities also offer short courses that are easier to customise to address current issues. Solar energy, in particular, has received a lot of attention, and many universities have designed their short courses to transfer this knowledge to students and industry players.

Are there any specific research facilities dedicated to renewable energy technologies at the university?

Eng. Masara: Yes, the space is changing fast, and universities must adapt well. Without incubation centres, all ideas simply die. Some universities, like JKUAT and Strathmore University, have incubation centres that allow students to develop their ideas into commercial use cases. These centres also provide linkages with other global funding organisations by connecting students with these opportunities to compete.

What do you think are the main challenges facing research in universities?

Eng. Masara: I think universities have missed the purpose of collaboration with industry. This should have been the perfect opportunity for students and industries to explore the challenges industries face and for students to develop appropriate solutions. Sometimes research misses the use case and applicability in our own setting. We try to solve big problems and miss the small problems, like even just food storage technologies to avoid wastage. Renewables like solar technology can help us with this.

What do you think could be done to promote research and innovation in Kenya and African universities?

Eng. Masara: Collaboration for localised solutions. This might sound like a cliché, but nobody is coming to save us. Renewables are offering us a new way of thinking to solve our problems. We have plenty of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal resources, and we must put them to use, right from agricultural farming to industrial processing.

Of course, without enough funding, nothing will take shape. Universities should not just seek partnerships and government funds but should devise their own mechanisms to generate revenue. And one way would be to fund their innovations, like in agriculture farming using solar for irrigation and geothermal for greenhouse farming, to name just a few.

Universities should also strengthen their collaboration with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions for complementary skill sets each holds. Engaging them can help overcome potential limitations in technical expertise and accelerate the development of their designs into functional models and potentially scalable solutions.