I am Abdalla Esmaeel from Sudan, a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Industries Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Wad-Medani City. Currently, I am pursuing PhD in Industrial Engineering after completing MSc. degree In Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, under the ACE-II PTRE Scholarship. The center assisted me to develop my English skills through attending English classes at the University when I reported in 2017. I have also attended a Research writing workshop in Nairobi and Training on power engineering short course in Rwanda. The trainings have afforded me a huge opportunity to meet and collaborate with excellent people at different stages in the world. With these connections, therefore, I have learnt a lot and published Two (2) papers, one (1) scientific paper in the Journal of Innovative Systems Design and Engineering and one (1) paper in the International Conference of Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy.
Moi University’s Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textile and Renewable Energy (ACEII PTRE has sponsored the training of the institution’s staff on intellectual property rights by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).
KIPI is a government parastatal that administers intellectual property rights.
Speaking during the official opening of the training at the School of Law in Eldoret town on Tuesday April 25, 2023, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research, Extension and Students’ Affairs, Prof. Isaac Kimengi, underscored the importance of the training, noting that it is timely in enabling the University commercialise its researches and innovations.
“We have not commercialised any of our researches and innovations and therefore this training offers us a great step towards moving forward to realise our dream. The training will create a change we have been yearning for. If the research you do does not make the society comfortable or better human beings, then it is useless,” said Prof. Kimengi, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Kosgey.
“Research is the key component in solving our problems. We need to patent and commercialise so that no one takes away what belongs to us,” reiterated Prof. Kimengi.
The two-day training is set to equip staff with skills in preparing and filing of patent applications, ownership, rights and obligations, benefits, terms of protection and fees, filing routes and requirements for patent applications, among others.