Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy

The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy has spearheaded numerous research activities. The University successfully held its first international academic conference in November 2021. The theme of the conference was harnessing technology and innovation to address emerging issues. The cabinet secretary for education Professor George Maghoha oficially opened the conference.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dickson Nyariki, emphasized the role of technology and innovation in society and reiterated his support for research and innovation. The conference attracted over one thousand participants. Over 98 research papers were presented at the virtual conference.

MUT has funded several research projects over the years. Currently, there are ongoing internally funded research projects and externally funded projects at the University. Internal projects are funded by the Vice Chancellor’s research and innovation grant. In 2020/2021, the grant attracted fourteen research proposals and eight innovations. Subsequently, three proposals received awards. In 2021/2022, the Vice Chancellors grant attracted nineteen research proposals and six innovations.

DRIC has also subscribed to the Research Beeline where they got access to funding opportunities. The Directorate also formed research teams that have developed over thirty proposals for funding.

Regarding innovations, the directorate has spearheaded the development of one innovation which has been registered by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute. The innovation was developed by staff in the school of engineering and Technology.

Murang’a University of Technology (MUT) was awarded an infrastructural grant in the financial year 2017/2018 by National Research Fund (NRF) to establish an Analytical and Imaging Laboratory. The equipment was installed in the financial year 2021/2022.

The Analytical and Imaging laboratory was established to promote research, improve training and quality of education in the University and the country at large. The Laboratory welcomes basic and applied research and education. The university also undertakes analytical work from industry, researchers and community. To sustain the laboratory a fee will be charged for analysis. For more information contact codpbs@mut.ac.ke or skiprotich@mut.ac.ke  click on the link (link) charges.

The Analytical and Imaging laboratory has the following equipment;

1. Atomic Absorption spectrometer (AAS)
2. Microwave plasma- (Atomic Emission Spectrometer)
3. High performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
4. Gas Chromatography – mass spectrometer (GC-MS)
5. X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)
6. Fourier Transform- Infra red (FT-IR)