6TH CALL FOR STUDENTS’ INNOVATION CHALLENGE

Machakos University Students’ Innovation Challenge

SIXTH CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR INTERNAL INNOVATION GRANTS FOR MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ FY 2025/2026

THEME: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. INTRODUCTION

Machakos University Student’s Innovation Challenge is an annual call that seeks to offer students with opportunities in responding to current and emerging socio-economic challenges based on the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformational Agenda (BeTA), namely:

Students are asked to submit proposal(s) formulated in line to the Theme as provided in this call. A panel of experts shall select finalists from all the received applications, and thereafter make funding decisions.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this call are to:

1. Offer opportunity to Machakos University students to strengthen their innovation and entrepreneurial skills in responding to emerging national and global challenges.
2. Promote students’ creativity in bringing out domestic innovation and technological capabilities to support a solution based sustainable development and realize the national, regional and global agenda.
3. Generate tangible prototypes and proven services to increase the University competitiveness in innovation and technology.
4. Provide an opportunity for students to actualize, protect and patent their innovations.

3. RATIONALE FOR THE CALL

This call is intended to support practical and solution-based innovation and technology in priority areas for the fulfillment of the University’s Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan in line with the Global and National Development Agenda and Targets as indicated in the five priority areas of focus.

4. DURATION

The project should be carried out within a period of one (1) year with financial release based on regular satisfactory progress reports and accounting. Applicants are required to submit a detailed workplan with clear monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

5. BUDGET

The Grant seeks to support up to a maximum of Kenya Shillings One Hundred Thousand (KES 100,000). The Grant does not support the purchase of electronic equipment such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras, printers and/or related accessories. The Grant will cover travel to sites and not per diem/subsistence. It cannot be used to support innovation project in progress or non-innovation related proposals such as income generating and production activities.

6. ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible:  

a. The applicant must be a bona fide student of Machakos University.

b. A proposed project must be aligned to the Government’s Development Agenda and must demonstrate:

—Contribution towards a new or improved quality product

—Contribution towards improved production processes

—Potential for protection and patenting

–Positive impact to society

c) Students with on-going Machakos University funded innovation projects are not eligible

d) Students who are in their final semester of study are also not eligible

7. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

A soft copy and three (3) hard copies of the proposal should be submitted to the Director (Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer), anytime from 7^th to 30^th April 2025. Incomplete applications as well as applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Soft copies should be submitted through the E-mail address: director-research@mksu.ac.ke and copied to registrar-ril@mksu.ac.ke and admin-ritt@mksu.ac.ke

In addition, please note the following:

1. Students are encouraged to collaborate and apply as pairs or small groups from different disciplines. The lead innovator in this case should be clearly identified.
2. The application forms are available at Machakos University Website: www.mksu.ac.ke students’ portal.
3. Each application must be signed by a supervisor and endorsed by the Chairman of Department or Dean of School where the principal innovator belongs.

8. PROPOSAL FORMAT

Applicants are required to fill the application form attached to this calls or download from students’ portal under www.mksu.ac.ke. The form should be filled in Times New Roman, Font size 12. It must contain the following sections dully filled as outlined in the application form: (i) Title of the Project Proposal (ii) Principal Innovator (iii) Co-Innovator(s) (iii) Background Information (iv) Summary Description of Innovation (v) Applications and Unique Features of the Innovation (vi) Sale of the Innovation (vii) Innovation History (viii) Declaration

9. APPLICATION GUIDELINES

1. Applications will be processed whenever they are received from 5^th to 19^th May 2025.
2. You can connect to the link on information and guidelines for proposal writing. Click the link below to Download the 6^th Call for Proposals Advert and the Guidelines for the Proposal Writing.

c. You may also visit the MksU Website at www.mksu.ac.ke for more information and guidelines.

For any other information or inquiries please contact:

The Director (Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer)

E-mail: director-research@mksu.ac.ke and copy to admin.director-ritt@mksu.ac.ke

Download Student’s Innovation Disclosure Form Here