Theme: “Sustainable Innovation and Kenya’s Big Four National Agenda”
INTRODUCTION
Kibabii University Innovation Challenge 2020 is an initiative of Kibabii University as part of European Union Funded African Higher Education Leadership in Advancing Inclusive Innovation for Development (AHEAD) Project to activate a series of innovative solutions for various community challenges. The Challenge will bring together students that care about building such solutions and are willing to ideate, deliberate and innovate for offering innovative solutions. Kibabii University will select the most feasible ideas and enable willing innovators/entrepreneurs in prototyping, testing and implementing to create an impact with the innovations. The goal of challenge is to support and accelerate the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at the University.
The Challenge encourages all KIBU Students, Startups and Young Innovators who have innovative ideas and big dreams about starting their own business ideas. It provides an excellent opportunity to learn from successful industry mentors, to nurture their innovative ideas into powerful business models and pitch them to the top investors/venture capitalist in future.
Key Areas
The focus for the year 2020 KIBU innovation challenge is on ‘Sustainable Innovation and Kenya’s Big Four Agenda’.
| S/N | Key Areas | Concentration/Fields |
| 1. | Food Security and Nutrition |
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| 2. | Enhancing Manufacturing |
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| 3. | Universal Health Coverage |
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| 4. | Affordable Housing |
|
Evaluation Criteria
The Criteria for selection of the innovation is based upon:
- Novelty of the innovation
- The scientific quality of the innovation
- Innovativeness and hyper-local solution
- The innovation addressing one or more of the themes mentioned
- The innovation scalability
- The innovation feasibility, marketability and sustainability
- The innovation socially acceptability
Evaluation Process
The evaluation process will be carried out in 3 phases by the panel of mentors and experts.
- Phase 1 – Scrutinizing the Applications at Faculty/School Level
- Phase 2 –Pitching the Ideas to the Panel of judges at Faculty/School Level. The best two individual/teams will be selected at Faculty/School level
- Phase 3 – Grand Finale and Demo Day
The projects submitted to the Innovation Challenge are evaluated by a judge panel consisting of representatives from Faculty/Schools. The panel members are required to keep confidential any information provided by the candidates in regards to the Innovation prize, except for the information made public for communication purposes. The decision of the evaluation panel, based on the evaluation criteria above cannot be contested.
Eligibility
- The Challenge is open to all duly registered students at Kibabii University in academic year 2019-2020 who have innovative ideas
- Students can participate individually or in a team of note more than five members
- Each team should have a University staff as guide. Any student (either as team or otherwise) can submit maximum of two entries.
Commitment
The student innovators (or their sponsors) commit themselves to:
- Cater for all costs for developing their innovations, and travel and upkeep during the presentations and exhibition.
- Take responsibility for providing the KIBU Innovation Committee with any information necessary for the evaluation of their project
- Ensure that all information provided is true, accurate, current and not misleading or likely to mislead. If this is not adhered to, the candidate will be eliminated or be obliged to reimburse the reward.
Benefits to the participants
- Incubation Support
- Mentorship Support
- Networking Session
- Access to workshops and training
- Product design and development support.
- Intellectual Property Management protection
- Winners will get cash prizes, participation certificate and trophies.
- Best staff award for mentoring winning team/individual
Deadline for receiving applications : up-to the time the University reopens
EVENT TIMELINE
| Milestone/Key Event | Key Dates |
| Announcement | 21th February 2020 |
| Submission of Applications | 21st Feb-20th March 2020 |
| Deadline for submission of the applications | 20th March 2020 |
| 1st Round of Selection at Faculty/School | |
| Scrutinizing the Applications at Faculty/School Level | 23rd March 2020 |
| Top five (5) individuals/teams to be shortlisted and notified | 24th March 2020 |
| 2nd Round of Selection at Faculty/School | |
| Idea Pitching by the Top five (5) individuals/teams. | 2nd April 2020 |
| Selection of two best individuals/teams at Faculty/School Level | 2nd April 2020 |
| Notification two best individuals/teams at Faculty/School Level | 3rd April 2020 |
| 3rd Round of Selection | |
| Top four (4) teams drawn from Faculties/Schools pitch their idea to the panel of judges and mentors drawn from the Research Committee | 9thApril 2020 |
| Selection of category winners | 9thApril 2020 |
| Award and certification and award of category winners | 9thApril 2020 |
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Application forms can be obtained at kibu.ac.ke
- All applications must be written in English only, Times New Roman, Font 12
- All participants must attach a copy of their student identity card indicating their eligibility
- Duly filled applications form should be submitted by email and hardcopy to innovationchallenge2020@kibu.ac.ke and to the Director, Research, Consultancy and Extension (Office: ABB 214) respectively
- Deadline for receiving applications : up-to the time the University reopens
- All applicants will be informed on the results of the selection process at all phases
Download: Call for Application
Download: Application Form
