INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICES (ITTOs)
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICES (ITTOs)
The Industrial Technology Transfer Offices (ITTOs) present the final path for research dissemination and uptake of industrial technologies developed by KIRDI. The ITTOs are ideal grounds to forge partnerships, collaboration and direct engagement with industries in counties and create work streams for the research centers. KIRDI has ITTOs in Migori, Uasin Gishu, Kisii, Bungoma and Kilifi.
KIRDI WESTERN REGION CENTRE (KWRC)
KIRDI KWRC consists of KIRDI Kisumu Centre and Industrial Technology Transfer Office (ITTO) located at; Kisii, Bungoma, Migori and Uasin-Gishu.
KIRDI Kisumu Centre
Established in 1991 in Kisumu to transfer technologies on flour production from traditional cereals such as millets and sorghum to the lake basin region of Kenya. The facilities and infrastructure were upgraded in 2013 to meet the growing demand for research and development services in the region. The centre currently undertakes research in food, leather, natural products, energy, and also provides analytical services to industries in the region.
Leather Technology Research supports entrepreneurs to tan raw hides and skins and convert the finished tanned leather into specific properties that make it suitable for making leather articles. The research division specializes in the production of leather from exotic animals such as fish. It also supports micro, small and medium industries through technology transfer in value addition of hides and skins and enhancing crafting skills of leather through training and incubation programmes.
The leather crafts workshop trains entrepreneurs to make products such as footwear, leather goods and leather apparel using the latest technologies. The leather research laboratory offers analytical services including evaluation of physical parameters of leather such as cracking test, tensile strength, water vapour permeability, water resistance (insole), abrasion and leather shrinkage.
Food Technology Research has processing equipment for food product development that allows researchers to simulate industrial processing conditions. The areas of specialization include value-addition to fruits and vegetables, cereals, root and tuber crops, oil crops, honey and meat processing. The unit has state-of-the art juice processing line, honey processing line and grain milling plant that are designed to support start-up enterprises in the region.
Energy Technology Research specializes in the conversion of agricultural biomass to produce green energy. The Research division has a briquetting machine produces briquettes from agricultural by-products such as rice husks, groundnut shells, coconut shells, bagasse, paddy straw and maize cobs. The briquettes are used by industries and households for energy generation as substitutes to charcoal and other fossil fuels.
Natural Products Research offers a wide range of training courses in production and processing of a number of household commodities such as sanitizers, soaps, deodorants, body lotions, body creams, body oils, shampoos, hair conditioners, perfumery, bar soaps, detergents, extraction of essential oils, formulation of bio-pesticides and animal feeds.
Analytical Services offers a wide range of physical, chemical and microbiological tests for food and animal feeds and water and waste water.
KWRC Industrial Technology and Transfer Office’s
KWRC also manages technology transfer offices in Kisii, Bungoma, Migori and Uasin Gishu Counties that transfer county-specific industrial technologies.
Kisii Industrial Technology Transfer Office (ITTO)
Provides services in fruits, vegetable and banana processing and also undertakes training, incubation and use of common manufacturing facilities on appropriate processing technologies.
The center is located in Kisii town.
Bungoma Industrial Technology Transfer Office (ITTO)
Provides services in soybean processing and also undertakes training, incubation and use of common manufacturing facilities on appropriate processing technologies.
The center is located at the Malakisi, Constituency Industrial Development Center (CIDC).
Migori Industrial Technology Transfer Office (ITTO)
Provides services in soybean processing and also undertakes training, incubation and use of common manufacturing facilities on appropriate processing technologies.
The center is located at the Migori, Constituency Industrial Development Center (CIDC).
Uasin-Gishu Industrial Technology Transfer Office (ITTO)
.jpg)
Provides services in fruit processing and also undertakes training, incubation and use of common manufacturing facilities on appropriate processing technologies. The center is located at the Eldoret, Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), premises.