The future of Kenya-Japan research cooperation will depend not only on the knowledge generated, but on what researchers do with it. This was the central message of the second Kenya-Japan Co-Creation Workshop, hosted by the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS) and organised in collaboration with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The workshop brought together researchers, students, policymakers and academic leaders from Kenya and Japan to showcase research, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Godfrey Madigu, Dean of the Institute, described the event as the product of a relationship that has steadily grown over the past two years. For Strathmore, the partnership comes at an important moment in the University’s development as it expands its footprint in science, technology, engineering and applied mathematics. “We want to see more publications coming from this,” Dr. Madigu said, while emphasising that the ambition goes beyond academic output. He called for research collaborations that can translate into policy, strengthen institutions and contribute to solving societal challenges.

The workshop reflected a shift in the way international research partnerships are being understood. Prof. Emmanuel Mutisya, University Council Chairperson of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, challenged participants to look beyond partnerships measured simply by publications and grants. “It’s about co-creating knowledge,” he said, urging researchers to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that combine the complementary strengths of Kenya and Japan. Japan’s strength in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing, he noted, can be complemented by Kenya’s dynamic research ecosystem, entrepreneurial energy and innovative capacity. The objective, therefore, is not simply to learn from one another, but to build together.

This approach was reinforced by Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation. He called for research to be judged by the problems it solves and the impact it creates. His message was direct: researchers must continually ask, “What are we doing research for?” He urged researchers to move beyond academic silos and connect universities, research institutions, government, industry and communities around shared national and global challenges. From agriculture and healthcare to biotechnology, artificial intelligence and climate change, he argued that the complexity of today’s challenges requires interdisciplinary approaches and international partnerships.

Prof. Abdulrazak also challenged researchers to think about the entire research value chain, from an idea to a prototype and ultimately to a solution that reaches society. He pointed to Kenya’s agricultural losses, health challenges and emerging opportunities in genomics and biotechnology as areas where research must produce tangible outcomes. “Society must be at the centre of what we are trying to do,” he said. This focus on impact also extends to intellectual property, industry partnerships and commercialisation. Prof. Abdulrazak encouraged researchers to consider intellectual property protection early and to engage industry from the beginning of the research process. For him, successful research should contribute not only to knowledge but also to jobs, wealth creation, economic growth and improved quality of life. He further called for stronger coordination across Kenya’s research ecosystem, noting that institutions should develop specialised niches while working together through collaborative clusters rather than duplicating efforts.

The value of the Kenya-Japan relationship was also illustrated through personal experiences. Prof. Mutisya, who spent more than a decade in Japan, described how his education and professional experience there shaped his perspective on science, sustainability and institutional development. He described himself as “partly Japanese” and encouraged young Kenyans to take advantage of opportunities to study and conduct research in Japan.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of creating pathways for young researchers. Dr. Yumi Yamane, Director of the JSPS Nairobi Research Station, outlined the range of opportunities available through JSPS, including international joint research, seminars, fellowships, support for young researchers and the development of international research networks. She noted that thousands of researchers participate in JSPS international programmes every year, but that participation from Africa remains comparatively low. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Dr. Yamane encouraged Kenyan researchers and students to explore the available programmes and work with the JSPS Nairobi office to understand the application pathways. The call was echoed by Prof. Mutisya, who argued that Kenya should significantly increase the number of students and researchers benefiting from opportunities in Japan, while simultaneously creating more opportunities for Japanese researchers to come to Kenya. The partnership, he said, should increasingly become a two-way exchange.

The importance of connecting research with communities was highlighted by Dr. David Mbuthia, Deputy Director in Charge of Research at the National Heroes Council. Dr. Mbuthia identified three major contributions of Kenya-Japan research cooperation: supporting researchers and institutions, fostering cultural exchange, and enabling the sharing of data, technology and innovation. He emphasised that meaningful research partnerships must also recognise community knowledge. Using examples from research involving local communities, he noted that solutions become more relevant when communities participate in shaping the research rather than being treated merely as subjects of study. He also pointed to artificial intelligence as an emerging area where Kenya-Japan collaboration could help ensure that African realities and data are represented in the global technology ecosystem.

For Strathmore University, the workshop aligns with a broader institutional ambition to deepen its contribution to science and technology. Dr. Madigu highlighted the University’s undergraduate programmes in applied sciences and its growing engineering portfolio, including electrical engineering. He noted that the University’s students have already demonstrated their capabilities on international platforms. One example is the collaboration between the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences in designing a Formula 1 Student concept car, which placed third in its category during an international competition in the United Kingdom. The University is also planning to build a science complex, the Kevin O’Byrne Building, as part of its vision to strengthen its science and technology ecosystem. The Kenya-Japan partnership offers an important platform within this growth trajectory, particularly given Japan’s global reputation in science, engineering and technology.

Across the different presentations, one message emerged consistently: the success of the Kenya-Japan partnership should not be measured by the number of meetings held, presentations delivered or papers published. Its real measure will be the partnerships that emerge, the young researchers who gain opportunities, the knowledge that is translated into solutions, and the societal challenges that research helps address.

Dr. Madigu called for greater faculty and student exchange, more joint publications and stronger interdisciplinary research. Prof. Abdulrazak called for research that can demonstrate a clear return on investment and improve lives. Prof. Mutisya challenged researchers to build strategic, long-term partnerships. Dr. Mbuthia emphasised community participation and locally relevant solutions, while Dr. Yamane opened the door wider for Kenyan researchers to access international opportunities through JSPS. Together, their messages point towards a new phase of Kenya-Japan cooperation, one built not simply around knowledge exchange, but around co-creation, innovation and impact.

For the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences, the second Kenya-Japan Co-Creation Workshop is therefore more than an annual gathering. It is a step towards building the networks, capabilities and interdisciplinary partnerships needed to address increasingly complex global challenges. The next chapter of the Kenya-Japan relationship will not only be about what Kenya learns from Japan or what Japan learns from Kenya, but what the two countries can create together.

Article written by Maitethia Doreen.