MMUST team with the Ag. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Mutai (centre) at the Technical University of Mombasa.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has once again gained the spotlight among the Universities in Kenya leading the way in innovations along with Technical University of Mombasa (TUM). This was exhibited when MMUST participated in the 5th Technical University of Mombasa Multi- disciplinary Conference and Innovation Week held from 2nd to 5th April, 2024 in Mombasa. Dr. Tecla Sum’s e-Konnect application, which she presented at the Conference, generated a lot of interest and visibility for the University. The Conference was officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary, Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, H. E Salim Mvurya and attended by the MMUST Ag. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Mutai as well as the TUM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Leila Abubakar.
Participants keenly following the presentations- From Left: Dr. Sylvia Mutua (TUM), Ag. VC Prof. Charles Mutai, Dr. Tecla Sum and Dr. Lydia Anyonje.
Speaking during the event, themed ‘From ideas to impact: Igniting cross sector innovation to shape a sustainable future,’ the MMUST Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Mutai commended Technical University of Mombasa for Championing Innovation through their Conference and Innovation Week. Expressing his delight at the participation of many youths in the conference and innovation activities, he pointed out that the future of the Country is the youth, saying that everyone has the capacity to innovate, we only need to believe in ourselves.
“Conferences should be about research, collaboration and the advancement of Knowledge. TUM has done exactly that. As a University, MMUST is ready and willing to collaborate with TUM especially in the area of Maritime Engineering and Blue Economy,” stated Prof. Mutai.
Ag. MMUST VC Prof. Charles Mutai with presenters of papers during the closing ceremony of the TUM Conference and Innovation Week.
During a courtesy call at the office of the TUM Vice Chancellor, the Director Science Park, Innovation and Incubation Centre (SPIIC), Prof. John Muoma, noted that the timely meeting and conference resonates with the current MMUST’s central positioning as the Marine center of research in Western Kenya. He reiterated that having Engineering courses is an advantage for MMUST, which can now collaborate with TUM in Marine Engineering.
“By the end of the year, MMUST will have more than 13 patents which it intends to commercialize and license. We are committed to securing the MMUST Intellectual Property,” said Prof. Muoma.
TUM VC Prof. Leila Abubakar, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs- Prof. Peter Gichangi (TUM) and Prof. John Muoma (MMUST), during a courtesy call at her office.
Expressing her eagerness to collaborate and her respect for MMUST as the first University to be TVETA accredited, Prof. Abubakar pointed out that her institution is keen on establishing a working relationship with innovators from MMUST as a way of synergizing different Universities’ strengths within the digital space as well as the Marine space.
“There is a need for innovative solutions that transcend boundaries. In the recently launched MTP4, priority has been given to the blue economy. Let us ride on this good will from the government of Kenya. Let us be change agents for the next generation, let us convert our synergetic ideas into invoices,” stated Prof. Leila Abubakar.
A section of MMUST team with TUM VC Prof. Leila Abubakar, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs- Prof. Peter Gichangi during a courtesy call at her office.
MMUST’s prolific researcher and innovator Dr. Tecla Sum Psusma presented the second phase of her e-Konnect application which first came into the limelight in 2020 to address the challenges of access to medical care and vaccines during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The app, which initially handled paramedical emergencies has been comprehensively upgraded towards emergency medical service surveillance and response. Accidents of any nature and magnitude can occur anywhere, anytime. It does not choose the characteristic population that it affects and therefore requires tracking. My app is designed to do this tracking and linking of patients to emergency services. I have also improved the parameters of the App. in order to expand it for use in the security intelligence space,” stated Dr. Sum.
Dr. Tecla Sum presenting her innovation, e- Konnect at Technical University of Mombasa.
The event explored various pertinent issues, including, transformative education, business and entrepreneurship, health and food security, digital creative economy and contemporary societies, Engineering technology and sustainable environment as well as blue economy and maritime affairs. The interactive sessions at the well- attended conference enabled meetings with partners in industry, innovators, government, investors and maritime practitioners keen on tapping into the blue economy and affiliated sectors.
A section of the MMUST team at the Conference and Innovation Week, Technical University of Mombasa.
Certainly, the partnerships established will galvanize MMUST’s research and innovation capacity. Given the advancement and usability of Dr. Sum’s innovation, MMUST is the University to watch in the research and innovation space.
