UoN and IRD seek Collaboration Opportunities through Engineering and Science Complex
The University of Nairobi was honored to host a high-level delegation led by the CEO and President French National research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the President of Université Côte d’Azur (UCA) on Thursday, in a visit organized by the Directorate of University Advancement and Institutional Development under the framework of the Engineering and Science Complex Project.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margaret J. Hutchinson, led the University’s senior management team in receiving the distinguished guests. In attendance were the Chief Operations Officer – Mr. Brian Ouma, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC RIE) – Prof. Francis Mulaa, and the Director of Research – Prof. Thomas Ochuku. Also present were Faculty Deans and researchers drawn from various departments across the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Agriculture—many of whom are part of the Engineering and Science Complex project.
During the meeting, the IRD CEO acknowledged IRD’s longstanding presence and impactful work in the East African region and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to advancing development-oriented research in collaboration with African institutions. The University of Nairobi, having been a valued partner of IRD for many years, was recognized for its vibrant research community and its central role in regional academic and scientific advancement.
Both parties underscored the importance of sustaining and expanding these collaborative efforts to address the pressing needs of local communities. A shared vision emerged from the discussions: the need to co-create a robust research ecosystem that supports innovation, knowledge exchange, and capacity building across diverse disciplines.
The highlight of the discussions was to seek areas and a framework for collaboration, which will provide a framework for joint research activities and mobility programs. The two institutions expressed mutual interest in exploring emerging fields of research such as Artificial Intelligence and Open Data, One Health, and Sports Medicine—areas in which French researchers have demonstrated significant expertise and which align well with the thematic priorities of the Engineering and Science Complex.
This visit marked a significant step forward in strengthening international academic partnerships and reaffirmed the University of Nairobi’s strategic focus on global collaboration as a pathway to impactful research and sustainable development.
