By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Kenya has hosted the Africa
Division Finals of the China International College Students’ Innovation
Competition (CICSIC) 2026, bringing together young innovators from across the
continent to showcase technology-driven solutions and entrepreneurial ideas.
The finals were officiated
by Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary at Kenya’s State Department
for Science, Research and Innovation, who engaged with student innovators
participating in the continental competition.
The 2026 Africa Division
brought together 185 innovation projects from 115 universities, with the top 30
projects from 21 universities across nine African countries advancing to the
final stage.
Prof. Abdulrazak said the
competition provides an important platform for strengthening international
collaboration, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and deepening
academic partnerships between Africa and China.
The CICSIC has grown into
one of the world’s largest student innovation platforms, attracting more than
50,000 projects and over 130,000 participants from more than 150 countries
between 2017 and 2025.
Speaking at the event, Prof.
Abdulrazak emphasised the importance of investing in young innovators and
translating research into practical solutions that can address societal
challenges and drive economic growth.
He noted that supporting
innovation and entrepreneurship among young people aligns with Kenya’s
Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, particularly efforts to create jobs,
accelerate industrialisation and build a knowledge-based economy.
The competition also
highlights the growing role of universities as centres for research, innovation
and technology development, while providing students with opportunities to
connect with global partners and expand their entrepreneurial ambitions.
