Newsletter & Events

 

The Medical Device Innovation Summer program at Kenyatta University was created to provide an immersive experience in medical device development, from problem identification to prototyping. The program aimed to encourage students to think creatively and develop solutions for pressing healthcare challenges, as identified through industry visits and clinical immersions.

The inaugural cohort of sixteen was selected from across Kenya and Uganda and were hosted at IvE’s Centre for Design, Innovation, and Engineering by the manager Stacy Awinja and the assistant manager Eubrea Mitchy Njer. For three weeks starting 3rd June 2025, they embarked on the rigorous program at Kenyatta University. Participants chosen for the program included clinicians and engineers who stood out for their creativity, technical prowess, passion for creating impact and solving healthcare challenges in the society.



The programming as well as selection criteria for the Summer program mirror that of the Master in Biomedical Engineering (Medical Device Innovation) being developed by IvE-KU in collaboration with Rice University. It gave us the platform to engage the innovator community and generate interest in participating in future iterations of IvE programs.

Additionally, the summer program provided an opportunity for us to leverage on our existing partnerships and learnings from interactions with other institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston College. We were also joined by Rice University faculty Casey Howard and Dr. Kiara Lee (PhD)for some of the sessions.

Clinical Insights Meets Engineering Execution.

In week 1, sessions covered included the Kenyan Healthcare System, Brainstorming Techniques, Safety, 3D printing, Woodwork, Metalwork, Embedded Systems.



 

The second week involved clinical immersions for needs finding at Thika Level 5 Hospital, Kiambu Level 5 Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital. Industry visits were also conducted at Villgro Africa, MOKO and the informal manufacturing sector. These visits helped the innovators open their eyes to real-life healthcare problems as well as to look at the different ways to approach innovation and manufacturing. The innovators identified unmet needs to understanding user workflows, hence developing empathy that drives meaningful innovation

 



 

Week 3 was for the innovators to incorporate all their learnings and develop prototypes addressing needs they had identified.



 

They worked on refining prototypes, testing functions, and preparing for their final presentations, embedding the clinical insights into engineering execution. The top ideas were awarded for their innovation and creativity. The winners of the Design Challenge were:

1st Place- Alex Gathua and Alphonce Oyugi: Electronic Partograph

2nd Place- Angela Chacha and Amos Olal: Early Breast Cancer Screening

3rd Place- Ebby Lari and Dennis Munene: Postpartum Hemorrhage Detection

 



Design Challenge winners

In conclusion, the Summer Program was a resounding success. There was immense knowledge transfer to the innovators who attested to how the program changed their approach to innovation and fueled them to continue to build and create for the African healthcare ecosystem. A huge thank you to all who participated in making it a success!

The future of biomedical engineering is brighter than ever! At this year’s IVE Poster Presentation, students showcased cutting-edge innovations designed to transform healthcare. From wearable respiratory monitoring to IoT-powered inventory tracking and vascular imaging, the competition was inspiring!

🥉 2nd Runner-up - Ashtone Onyango – PneuMonitor: Multi-Modal Wearable Respiratory Monitoring System for Early Detection of Pediatric Pneumonia.

🥈 1st Runner-up - June Lindah Adhiambo – Bio Med Tracker: An IoT-Based Inventory Management & Tracking System.

🥇 Winner - Valery Chebet – Vascular Mapping Device.

Congratulations to these young innovators for pushing the boundaries of healthcare technology! 🚀👏



   

<span class="break-words
tvm-parent-container">We welcome you to express interest in the Medical Device Innovation Master's program here: https://lnkd.in/d9NkNQwk

<span class="break-words
tvm-parent-container">Collaboration drives innovation, and the Collaboration with Academia roundtable was a testament to the power of partnerships in Medtech. By bringing together university stakeholders, we explored how academia can work together to drive impactful research, build capacity, and translate groundbreaking ideas into real-world solutions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Encouraging collaborative R&D while maintaining institutional autonomy – Universities and industry players can work together to drive technological advancements while respecting institutional priorities, intellectual property rights, and research independence.

2. Capacity building must include patents & device innovation – Academia must go beyond traditional research and integrate intellectual property training, patent development, and medical device innovation into academic programs. By fostering a culture of innovation protection and commercialization, institutions can better contribute to the Medtech ecosystem.

3. Community engagement & fostering innovation from a young age – Universities play a crucial role in teaching innovation, creativity, and critical thinking at all levels. There was a strong call to engage younger students (primary and secondary) in innovation education and map the ecosystem to collaborate with organizations already doing this work, such as Young Scientists.

4. User-centered problem-solving for industry impact – Moving from a tech-push to a demand-pull approach requires deeper engagement with market needs. A key recommendation was to develop mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating real-world industry challenges to ensure that research and innovations are demand-driven and impactful.

What’s Next?
This roundtable was just the beginning of a broader movement toward deeper collaboration. By fostering communities of practice, mapping the innovation ecosystem, and engaging younger students in innovation and critical thinking, we can lay the foundation for a thriving medtech industry.
KNEIL remains committed to driving this agenda forward by strengthening partnerships, facilitating ecosystem engagement, and supporting academic institutions in transforming research into impactful solutions.

A huge thank you to our partners and participating institutions, including Invention Education - Kenyatta University, Strathmore University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (DeKUT), AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, EAST AFRICA United States International University - Africa, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Mount Kenya University - MKU, GARISSA UNIVERSITY, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital, The Lemelson Foundation, and many more.

Looking forward to the next steps in shaping the future of healthcare through innovation!





 

 

 

The CDIE team had the privilege of visiting the design studios at the University of Lagos and The University of Ibadan.

We were inspired by:
🔹 The well-organized layout and spacious design fostering creativity.
🔹 The unwavering dedication of the teams to innovation and excellence.

This benchmarking trip is already yielding valuable insights as we aim to elevate design practices at CDIE.





 

 

Last week, IVE hosted an exciting Catalyst Grant event where participants presented their prototypes and networked with peers and industry leaders. It was a celebration of creativity and innovation, and we’re proud to acknowledge the dedication of all involved.

Special thanks to our partners The Lemelson Foundation Rice University, Kenyatta University , Our PI Kenneth Iloka PhD. Education Coordinator Maryanne Muriuki, Design Studio Manager Stacy Awinja , MIEEE Administrator CAROLINE NG'ANG'A

Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their hard work and inspiring ideas! 🎉

hashtag#CatalystGrant hashtag#Innovation hashtag#Entrepreneurship hashtag#Networking hashtag#IVE2025 MedTech Kenyatta University

 

The Medtech Connect Networking IP Workshop, co-hosted by Invention Education Kenyatta University and MEDevice Africa, was an incredible session! 🌍✨

We explored the critical role of Intellectual Property (IP) in MedTech, providing innovators with the tools to protect, commercialize, and scale their ideas.

💡 Key Takeaways:
🔹 Why IP protection is essential for medtech innovation.
🔹 The step-by-step process of IP registration.
🔹 Common challenges and how to navigate them.

A big thank you to our expert speakers, Eric M.J Gona and Eng. Nathan Yego, as well as our partners, East Africa Biodesign and Nairobi Garage, for making this workshop insightful and impactful. 🚀

Innovation flourishes when knowledge is shared and protected. Let’s continue driving medtech innovation forward while securing the future of our ideas!

hashtag#MedTech hashtag#IntellectualProperty hashtag#Innovation hashtag#Networking hashtag#IPProtection
Kenyatta University MedTech Kenyatta University

Maryanne Muriuki Stacy Awinja , MIEEE Wambui Nyabero

  

 

MEDevice Africa and Invention Education - Kenyatta University convened 51 stakeholders across universities, corporates, hubs, funders, startups, healthcare providers, the Medtech market, and government agencies for the MedTech Stakeholders Connect.
The forum focused on strengthening Africa’s MedTech ecosystem through collaboration, innovation, and aligning biomedical education with real-world industry needs.

Key discussions included:
1. Building stronger bridges between startups, academia, and corporations.
2. Streamlining regulatory processes to support local innovation and manufacturing.
3. Including practical healthcare challenges in biomedical engineering training.
4. Defining what makes graduates truly ready for the MedTech market.
The event highlighted the urgency and opportunity to develop an environment where local innovations can thrive, from ideation to market adoption.

We are grateful to all participants for driving a rich and honest conversation: Invention Education - Kenyatta University, DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (DeKUT), Strathmore University, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Technical University of Mombasa, University of Nairobi, Drop Access Limited, Talking Hands Listening Eyes, Angaza Elimu, Think Place, Gearbox ,BBraun, AMREF, Hatch Technologies, Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, Amek Group, Siemens Healthineers, Science for Africa Foundation, Konza Technopolis, iTATU, UK-Kenya Tech Hub, Ryculture Health and Social Innovation, Qhala, FCDO Services, Victoria Ventures, The Lemelson Foundation, KIPI Kenya Industrial Property Institute and Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA).

   

    

🚨 Catalyst Grant – Call for Proposals.

Are you building a hardware solution to a critical healthcare challenge? Here’s your chance to access seed funding to bring your innovation to life!
Projects should demonstrate:
🔹 Innovation & originality
🔹 Technical feasibility & prototyping
🔹 Sustainability & long-term impact
🔹 Relevance to healthcare

💰 Funding Available
• Student Grant – Up to $1,000 (open to all Kenyan university students)
• Lecturer/Postgraduate Grant – Up to $2,500

🔗 Submit online - https://lnkd.in/exAYGWh6

Editorial- Dr. Madete

Kenyatta University (KU) is poised to take a giant leap in healthcare innovation, thanks to a
transformative partnership with Rice360 in the United States.
The Invention Education (IvE) program at Kenyatta University allows students and faculty to improve
healthcare by creating and implementing inventions that address local and global issues through
international cooperation among universities, industries, hospitals, and non-profit organizations.
The University, alongside Rice360 and with funding from the Lemelson Foundation, launched a
foundational project in Kenya to explore Universities meaningful involvement in the national innovation
ecosystem.
In this foundational effort, the team worked with stakeholders from universities and the broader
innovation community to:
(i) Determine invention education priorities that would significantly impact the local innovation
ecosystem,
(ii) Interact with stakeholders outside of university contexts (such as industries, innovation
hubs, regulatory authorities, and funders) to grasp their distinct goals, needs, and
opportunities that could enhance collaboration with universities in Kenya, and
(iii) Bring together invention education and innovation stakeholders to formulate and share a
plan of action that encourages greater university involvement in Kenya in the innovation
ecosystem.

From these discussions, two main priorities emerged for expanding IvE in Kenya:
1. Reforming the curriculum to align with local contexts to inspire students to tackle regional
challenges. Furthermore, practical content delivery methods can help close the gap between
theory and practice for graduates entering the workforce. Input from industry partners is crucial
for establishing university curriculum priorities, which should focus on entrepreneurship to
prepare students for future employment opportunities.
2. Developing partnerships within the innovation ecosystem is essential for maintaining a thriving
environment that promotes human-centered and relevant innovation. Implementing
progressive strategies for collaboration with the innovation ecosystem is necessary to help
transfer innovations from academic settings.

Drawing from the insights gained during this foundational phase, the team aimed to create the
curriculum and outline our network to foster innovation. The following strategies will facilitate
curriculum transformation and enhance university engagement with the innovation ecosystem:
1. Provide infrastructure for hands-on, project-based learning to address the technical skills gap
between academia and the innovation ecosystem.
2. Utilize active learning methods found in invention education to empower student innovators.
3. Implement cross-institutional strategies for faculty and industry collaborations.

 

A New Dawn - Medical Device Innovation Program at Kenyatta University

In the glaring gap of skilled medical technology and healthcare professionals globally, the Biomedical
Engineering Program at Kenyatta University was conceived to meet the urgent need for these skills.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically Goal 3 (Good Health
and Well-being), Goal 4 (Quality Education), and Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), the
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering was officially launched in September 2013.
The inaugural class graduated in 2018, and since then, we have witnessed a graduating cohort each
year with students consistently producing impressive final-year projects and innovative ideas throughout their
studies. However, many of these innovations remain within university laboratories, failing to address
real-world societal challenges.
This scenario highlighted a significant disconnect between academia and industry. Despite the wealth of
innovative academic projects, their impact was limited due to a lack of industry integration. To address
this gap, Kenyatta University and Rice360 collaborated on a proposal, leading to the implementation of
Phase One of the Invention Education (IvE) project in 2022, funded by the Lemelson Foundation.
The outcomes of Phase one confirmed the existing disconnect. It was evident that developing true
innovators required full industry involvement and engagement from other stakeholders at every stage,
from curriculum development to implementation.
Building on this realization, the Master of Science in Medical Device Innovation program was proposed,
mirroring the Global Medical Innovation (GMI) program at Rice University. This new program is currently
undergoing approval and is expected to launch in September 2025. We believe this initiative will not
only bridge the gap between academia and industry, but also drive the development of practical
healthcare solutions that directly benefit society.
It is exciting to envision how this program could transform healthcare innovation in the country, region
and indeed globally.

Benchmarking Impact - Insights into Our Medical Device Innovation Curriculum

The development of our Master of Science in Medical Device Innovation curriculum has been a
collaborative effort, informed by some of the world’s top biomedical engineering programs. We
benchmarked against Stanford, NYU, Johns Hopkins, the University of Cape Town, and Addis Ababa
University, ensuring an incorporation of global best practices while addressing Kenya’s unique
healthcare challenges.
We have closely modelled on Rice University’s top-ranked bioengineering curriculum—leveraging their
expertise as our implementing partners—we have tailored our program to fit Kenya’s healthcare and
innovation ecosystem. This curriculum sits at the intersection of medicine, business, and engineering,
equipping students with a well-rounded skill set.
Additionally, our curriculum is bridging the gap on the lack of a clear regulatory pathway for medical
devices. This has been done by introducing a Regulatory Systems course that explores global regulatory
frameworks, Kenya’s evolving landscape, and potential future pathways. Students will critically analyse
existing models and propose strategies for regulatory advancement.
Embedding Entrepreneurship and Industry Linkages
This program has integrated entrepreneurship and invention education, to ensure students are learning
how to navigate intellectual property, business models, and venture funding in an endeavour to bring
their technologies to market.
At the heart of the curriculum is a strong industry connection, which has been co-designed with input
from hospitals, manufacturers, and regulators. This is to ensure that students work on real-world
challenges while benefiting from mentorship by clinical and industry professionals. Through industry
seminars, needs-finding exercises, and professional exposure, we align academic training with market
demands.

A Hands-On, Project-Based Approach

Our program emphasizes team-based, project-driven learning, where students tackle real healthcare
challenges under clinical and industrial mentors. This ensures they graduate with both theoretical
knowledge and hands-on experience in designing, developing, and implementing medical technologies.
By merging global insights with local needs, we are shaping the next generation of biomedical
innovators and employees poised to transform healthcare in Africa and beyond.
The program is in the final stages of approval and is poised to start in August 2025.