The Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) held a Knowledge Café earlier this week on intellectual property, standards and the Early Stage Finance Mechanism for its clients. The learning forum was facilitated by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The Knowledge Café is a sharing event held twice a year, to impart vital information to clients on business practices to assist them run their enterprises with ease. This year clients were taken through processes on company registration, the dynamics of trademarks, KEBs standards and the newly established KCICs Early Stage Finance facility (ESFM). Making his opening remarks, Ernest Chitechi, Corporate Services Manager, said “It is necessary to gain knowledge that aides in the growing of your inventions. Learning never stops.”
David Njuguna, Patent Manager KIPI took clients through the patenting process, what products and inventions can be patented and limitation of patent rights. He said, “It is important to register and patent your inventions to ensure that you are protected from exploitation from other parties.”
He stressed that many people lose rights over their inventions simply due to lack of knowledge. The patenting process is quite straight forward. It was vital for any inventor to patent their product to avoid loss of intellectual property.
Naomi Kitur from KEBS made a presentation on KEBS standards and was able to guide clients through processes such as product certification and their cost implication. She stated, “You must know your rights. People suffer due to lack of knowledge. Your application procedures should not be frustrated; it is our job to ensure that your product is certified.”
Clients also had the opportunity to be enlightened to the Early Stage Financing Mechanisms (ESFM) that is being launched by KCIC in collaboration with Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV) to provide funding to start-ups. The KCIC Early Stage Finance Facility is proposed to finance development of clean technology start-ups in the renewable energy, agribusiness, water and sanitation sectors.
The Knowledge Café was attended by Rafode Ltd, Mobi Water Tech, Riecotel, Miyonga Fresh Greens, Acacia Innovation, Simatech, Agrihouse Solutions, Ukulima Tech Ltd, Green Tech Organic, Lejan Energy, BSFL Organics, Exotic EPZ Ltd, Seed Savers Network, Byster Ltd, Fullspoon Ltd, Megagas Enterprises and Equatorial energies.
Felix Magaju, Client Service Manager KCIC, emphasized on the importance of the event, said, “It is an opportunity to answer those questions frequently asked by clients. It is also a networking platform for clients to interact amongst themselves and with the various experts.”
By Michelle Mung’ata