The University of Nairobi (UoN) is strategically expanding its research and innovation agenda by embracing social innovation. On Wednesday 10 June 2026, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE), Professor Margaret J. Hutchinson, held a high-level meeting directed towards a partnership between the University of Nairobi (UoN) and the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), a UK based charity, who are partnered with the India-based EdelGive Foundation.
The DVC described this move as a vital institutional evolution, emphasizing that while the University has a strong legacy in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, the social sciences should also be taken seriously because of their significance in promoting the sustainable transformation of communities. Social innovation in this context refers to innovation that is "social in both means and ends," where ideas are generated by the community and the proceeds are reinvested back into it.
Professor Hutchinson highlighted that an appreciation of social innovation will influence how research is conducted and how the university identifies impactful ideas. She asserted that the university is committed to "expanding the sphere of knowledge, ensuring that we do things that are creative and new, to empower and bring sustainability in our community". She further emphasised the strategic value of working with the two partners in line with the mandate of the RIE Division, whose work seeks to improve society.
Prof. Maina Wagacha, the Director for Innovation and Intellectual Property Management, welcomed the partnership as timely in view of the Division’s current drive to align innovations with social realities.
Carly Wickham, CEO of SIX, highlighted that the collaboration with UoN aims to address a gap in global visibility for local initiatives, explaining that they seek to "amplify social innovation from the Global South". She was accompanied to the meeting by COO, So Jung Rim. The partnership will focus on connecting isolated social innovators, allowing them to share knowledge and scale their impact within a vibrant local ecosystem.
The parties agreed to collaborate on a major social innovation convening planned for November with long-term commitments to co-create policy, publish impactful research, and influence mindset transformation in the approach to societal challenges.