Get innovation support from the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA)
Kenya National Innovation Agency · sources read 4 Oct 2026
KeNIA supports innovators mainly through the yearly Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award (apply when a call opens on its awards website), the R2C accelerator for researchers, and the free Kenya Innovation Bridge, where you list your innovation for partners and funders. Applications for the awards were closed on 4 Oct 2026, so watch innovationagency.go.ke for the next call.
- Fee
- KSh 30,000Capacity building on innovation and entrepreneurship (per the service charter)
- How long
- Awards: about 60 working days. Listing on the Innovation Bridge: 2 working days. Partnership recommendation: 7 working days.
- Where
- Online: innovationagency.go.ke, the awards website pia.kenia.go.ke, r2c.innovationagency.go.ke and the Kenya Innovation Bridge. Office: 2nd Floor, Rainbow Towers, Muthithi Road, Westlands, Nairobi. Phone +254 792 446 976, info@kenia.go.ke.
Steps
- List your innovation on the Kenya Innovation Bridge (bridge.innovationagency.go.ke). It is free and KeNIA aims to upload it within 2 working days.
- For an award, respond to KeNIA's yearly call for applications on the awards website (pia.kenia.go.ke) when it opens. It is free.
- Researchers: apply online for the R2C accelerator when a cohort is recruiting and wait to be shortlisted.
- To be linked to partners or financial help, submit your innovation records to KeNIA (info@kenia.go.ke). It is free.
Watch out
- The award application window was closed when we checked. KeNIA opens one call a year, so watch its website.
- R2C is a long commitment: successful candidates go through 6 to 8 months of the accelerator.
Who can apply
- Kenya Innovation Bridge: innovators, inventors, researchers and startups.
- R2C accelerator: researchers, academics and entrepreneurs taking research to market.
Official sources (4)
- Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) innovationagency.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Service Delivery Charter innovationagency.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Research 2 Commercialisation Accelerator r2c.innovationagency.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award (PIA) pia.kenia.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026