Kibabii University Innovation Challenge 2020

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’.

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

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