Bio-Innovate Program Overview
The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program was established in 2010 to finance multi-disciplinary biosciences and product oriented innovation activities in the Eastern Africa countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Currently, the program is comprised of nine innovation and policy projects consortia and 57 institutions drawn from the 6 countries, with collaboration from institutions outside the region.
Bio-Innovate is supported by a grant of SEK 80m (USD 10.7m) from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The Program builds on previous investments, achievements and experiences from the Sida-supported BIO-EARN Program and other regional initiatives. Bio-Innovate will work closely with the African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) in strengthening regional collaboration in science and technology to enable the continent to adapt the rapid advances and promises of modern biosciences.
The management of the program consists of:
1. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
2. Technical Advisory Committee
3. Program Management Team
4. The Panel of Independent Experts
5. Thematic Consortia Project Leaders
Mission
To create and promote bio-resource-based innovation systems for sustainable utilization and integration of the innovations into Eastern Africa’s economic development processes.
Vision
To develop into a program of excellence that contributes to sustainable and integrated utilization of bio-resources for economic growth and development of Eastern Africa.
Our Focus
The application of bio-resource innovations to support sustainable growth and transformation of the agricultural and environmental subsectors from primary production to value addition, while enhancing adaptability to climatic change and strengthening innovation policy. The 9 projects consortia are comprised of a range of value chain actors critical to span the process from science to production and markets.
Our Objectives
a) To strengthen crop innovation systems to improve productivity and enhance food and nutrition security in the region.
b) To develop and promote innovations on sustainable waste treatment and on securing freshwater resources, on producing bio-energy from renewable bio-resources and on mitigating climatic change.
c) To deliver innovative agricultural, environmental and industrial techniques that stimulate sustainable transformation, utilization and productivity of the region’s bio-resources.
d) To develop and promote innovation policies for sustainable harnessing of bio-resources.
e) To strengthen and operationalize an enabling mechanism for mobilization, catalysis and nurturing of a strong bio-resource and science-led economic growth agenda for Eastern Africa.
