Staff attrition and obsolete equipment slows State agency's bid to commercialise products

Staff for Too Much Sauce work on raw materials at their incubation centre in KIRDI. [Courtesy]

Staff attrition at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) has been mentioned as one of the reasons behind shrinking innovation in the industrial space that is key for the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

KIRDI, in its latest strategic plan, says the departure of scientists and the reluctance of some to update on their innovation has affected the rate at which the research body churns out innovative products.