Collaborations Take Center Stage at ESC Research Annual Conference

The University of Nairobi’s Engineering and Science Complex (ESC) successfully held its Research Annual Conference on October 21–22, 2025, alongside the University’s Research and Innovation Week. The event brought together researchers, PhD students and academic partners from Kenya and France to showcase ongoing collaborations and share insights on advancing research and innovation within the ESC framework.

The conference highlighted the ESC’s central role in promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary research that connects science, engineering and innovation for societal impact. The conference began with a keynote address delivered by Prof. Marc Zolver, an international expert in industry–academia linkages at the University of Nairobi, during the Research and Innovation Week opening ceremony. Speaking on the Engineering and Science Complex Vision and Architecture, Prof. Zolver underscored the ESC’s ambition to create a vibrant platform that drives research excellence, builds capacity and strengthens partnerships between academia and industry.

This was followed by an engaging discussion by the ESC Pillar Heads, Arch. Jarret Odwallo, Prof. Thomas Ochuku, Prof. David Kariuki, Prof. Jackson Maalu, Prof. Marc Zolver, and Mr John Orindi, who shared notable achievements and upcoming priorities across the ESC pillars. They reflected on the significant progress made under the project, including completion of preliminary studies that will pave the way for the commencement of building works, strengthened research collaborations with French partners and current ongoing initiatives aimed at upgrading the University’s innovation ecosystem.

The discussion also highlighted the development of new curricula under the ESC framework and the successful mobility programs that have enabled exchange and collaboration among faculty members and students.

The second day of the conference, held at the C4D Lab, Chiromo Campus, showcased ongoing research collaborations and the expanding impact of the Engineering and Science Complex (ESC) programs. The sessions brought together researchers from the University of Nairobi, who participated in person, and their counterparts from French partner institutions, who joined virtually, to share insights and progress from their joint research initiatives. One of the major highlights of the event was the participation of ESC PhD Mobility Awardees, who presented their PhD research projects alongside their Kenyan and French supervisors.

The session also provided a platform for sharing lessons from ongoing collaborations and fostering mentorship between experienced scholars and early-career researchers.

The conference further featured presentations from recipients of ESC joint research grants, who shared updates on their collaborative projects being implemented between University of Nairobi researchers and French partner institutions. These initiatives reflect the growing depth of research cooperation, particularly in areas aligned with sustainable innovation and digital transformation.

By bringing together academics, students, and research partners, the 2025 ESC Research Annual Conference reaffirmed the University of Nairobi’s commitment to advancing science, engineering, and innovation through meaningful international partnerships.

The discussions during this crucial event also underscored the ESC’s vision of transforming the research landscape by fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and developing solutions that respond to global and local development needs.