Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute

What Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute does

Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute (KIRDI) is a state-owned research parastatal established in 1979 and operating under Kenya's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, with a statutory mandate under the KIRDI Act 2022 to undertake industrial research, development, innovation and technology transfer across civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, food, textile, ceramics, mining, leather, natural products, energy, and emerging technologies. The institute is structured around seven specialised research centres (Industrial and Allied Technologies Research) and a Technology Transfer & Extension Services division, with field operations in Nairobi, Kisumu (Western Region Centre), Eastern Kenya, and a coastal innovation hub in Kwale County.

KIRDI's core offerings combine infrastructure-based services with applied R&D. The Industrial Incubation Programme supports entrepreneurs for up to 18 months with workspace, equipment, and technical assistance, while Common Manufacturing Facilities provide shared access to capital-intensive equipment (plasma/laser cutting, sheet rolling, pipe bending, powder coating, MIG welding, press brake) and accounted for 724 enterprise users and 2,172 direct jobs in FY2023/24. The Capacity Building programme trained 366 industrial entrepreneurs in the same period, and the Equipment Design and Fabrication unit offers prototyping, tooling, and consultancy. KIRDI also commercialises select R&D outputs, including the KIRDI Biogas unit (KSh 10,000), the SOLCOOLDRY solar-powered fish cooling and drying system developed with Fraunhofer ISE, and the Swachh 3.2 sanitary pad-making machine launched under the BIAWE 2 women entrepreneurs initiative.

The institute operates a hybrid revenue model dominated by exchequer allocations from the parent ministry, supplemented by service fees from incubation, training, and common manufacturing facility access, consultancy income, and modest product sales. Its primary customers are Kenyan micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and industrial entrepreneurs, supplemented by agro-industries, fisherfolk and coastal communities. Distribution is delivered through direct service at KIRDI facilities, regional centres, virtual incubation, Kenya's eCitizen platform, and an online shop for products. KIRDI holds 14 granted intellectual properties, has produced 212 publications, and reports a cumulative reach of 7,737 enterprises supported across its programmes.

Name

Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute

Legal name

Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute

Website

https://kirdi.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute (KIRDI) is a state-owned R&D parastatal under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry that provides industrial research, technology transfer, incubation, common manufacturing facilities, training, and equipment fabrication to Kenyan micro, small and medium enterprises and industrial entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: KIRDI is a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, primarily funded through government budgetary allocations
2. Service Fees: Fees for industrial incubation, capacity building, common manufacturing facilities, equipment design and fabrication, and consultancy services
3. Product Sales: Sale of biogas products and equipment (KIRDI Biogas at KSh 10,000)
4. Training Programs: Revenue from technical skills training programs for industrial entrepreneurs

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KIRDI is a government R&D institute that undertakes research, development and innovation in industrial and allied technologies, and provides technology transfer services to Kenyan industries. It delivers Industrial Incubation (up to 18 months), Common Manufacturing Facilities access, Capacity Building training, Equipment Design and Fabrication, analytical testing, and sells products such as the KIRDI Biogas unit. It targets MSMEs, industrial entrepreneurs, agro-industries and coastal communities seeking industrial development support.

Product overview

KIRDI operates as a government research institute providing a portfolio of industrial research, development, and support services organized under distinct programmatic areas. Core offerings include the Industrial Incubation Programme (providing workspace, equipment, and technical support for up to 18 months), Common Manufacturing Facilities (shared equipment access for start-ups), Capacity Building (practical training in food, leather, natural products, and textile technologies), and Equipment Design and Fabrication (engineering design, prototyping, and machining services). KIRDI also sells products including the KIRDI Biogas unit (KSh 10,000) through its online shop, and has launched specialized technologies such as the Solar Cooling and Drying (SOLCOOLDRY) system and the Swachh 3.2 Pad-Making Machine. The institute is structured around seven specialized research centers (IATR division), three technology transfer and extension service centers, and regional offices covering western and eastern Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 7,737 enterprises across various programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DEKUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration, technology development and knowledge exchange in industrial research areas
• JICAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapan International Cooperation Agency partnership supporting industrial research capacity and technology transfer initiatives
• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for agricultural research and technology development supporting agro-processing value chains
• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on climate innovation and green technology development for Kenyan industries
• KenInvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for investment promotion and industrial development linkage facilitation
• Moi UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration in industrial technologies
• UNIDOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization partnership for industrial development and technology transfer
• Vision 2030coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlignment with Kenya's national development blueprint for industrial transformation
• Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ministry providing policy direction and government support for industrial research mandate
• NACOSTIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Commission for Science Technology and Innovation partnership for research regulation and coordination
• Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with manufacturers for industry feedback and technology adoption
• Snow Leopard Projects / BAFAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development partnership supporting renewable energy and environmental projects
• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'environnement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research institute partnership for agricultural and environmental research collaboration
• Fraunhofer ISEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman research partnership for SolCoolDry solar cooling and drying technology development
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGECKO Project partnership for green and circular economy innovation
• University of NairobicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration and technology development

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's applied research organization with institutes covering materials, energy, production, and ICT; a KIRDI partner (Fraunhofer ISE on SOLCOOLDRY) and the archetypal model of contract-based industrial R&D at scale.
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL): UK's national metrology institute providing measurement standards, testing, and applied research; comparable to KIRDI's Central Analytical Services and standardization role but at much greater scale.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): US national laboratory providing standards, technology, and industrial R&D; a comparable institution in industrial metrology and technology transfer role, though vastly larger in scope and funding.
• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) South Africa: South Africa's national multi-disciplinary scientific and industrial research council; comparable in breadth and government mandate, though significantly larger and more diversified than KIRDI.

Others

• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): UN agency promoting industrial development and technology transfer; a core strategic partner of KIRDI and an adjacent ecosystem enabler for industrial policy and capacity building in developing economies.

Direct peers

• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO): Kenyan government agricultural research body that is a direct KIRDI partner and a domestic peer in national-mandate applied R&D and technology transfer to Kenyan enterprises.
• Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO): Tanzania's national industrial R&D organization, structurally a direct peer as an East African government-mandated industrial research institute offering testing, training, equipment design, and technology transfer services.
• Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's national industrial technology R&D body offering testing, training, and incubation across similar industrial domains; comparable scale and developing-economy operating context.
• Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI): Uganda's government industrial research institute providing incubation, common manufacturing facilities, training, and product development — the closest regional peer to KIRDI by mandate and service mix.

Regional players

• Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS): Kenya's national standards body, complementary to KIRDI's product standardization and quality assurance work; overlaps in testing/certification for Kenyan MSMEs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kirdi_kenya
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHgc5QD1jftwvYVgt5Qa1jQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/kirdi.kenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirdi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute