of which is M-pesa type). e) Additional 1.5% contribution to GDP by 2017/18. f) ICT is classified as an independent sector by 2016. g) Recognition of Kenya as a regional ICT Hub. h) Retention in the country of at least 60% of revenue raised from ICT IPs. 5.3.4 Objectives and Strategies The following objectives and strategies will be pursued to achieve the outcomes outlined above by 2017. a) ‘It is important that support is given for innovation hubs and clusters outside of Nairobi.’ Technology innovation Objective O10: Work with the relevant State Departments to promote ICT innovations and their commercialization Strategy S1: Establish innovation centers of excellence (CoEs) and science and technology (S&T) parks for R&D for developing ICT applications and services. There is an opportunity to build on current strengths and become a leader in ICT applications and services. By 2017, at several CoEs and S&T parks should be established that will focus on R&D in ICT applications and services. The centers and S&T parks will be enabled with capacity to provide incentives for R&D efforts in ICT applications development and innovations. They should also have capacity to handle research funds that may come from grants, gifts, endowments, etc. In addition, it is envisaged that the CoEs and S&T parks will collaborate with the private sector to develop ICT innovations that are relevant to the market. They will also be linked, physically and virtually, with other innovation centres to create a physical and virtual innovation clusters. It is important that support is given for innovation hubs and clusters outside of Nairobi. There is an opportunity for one cluster ..90 .................................................................................................................Towards ...............a...Digital .............Kenya ............ to form around Konza Technocity. Through these innovation centers and clusters, leading experts and innovators will be acknowledged, recognized and rewarded. Strategy S2: Promote technology innovation through Government. This will be achieved through the following actions: a) Implementation and management of public data hubs (persons, land & infrastructure, establishments, and assets) to accelerate the development of commercially viable applications by public and private sector. b) Implementation and management of middleware, open architectures with application development engines and portals to create a conducive environment for rapid development of free and commercial services for citizens by the public and private sector. c) ICT Authority and the Ministry of ICT meaningfully engaging and re-establishing links with the local technology community and not just the big players. d) Facilitation of competent local companies to build and deploy proprietary technologies to complement the electronic public service delivery system. e) Partnership with Kenyan companies to protect Kenyan technology innovations and market them to the African region and the rest of the world. It is anticipated that these technologies will be sold to at least five regional and international governments. Strategy S3: Create programs to support commercialization of innovations. Programs to support commercialization of innovations are necessary in linking talent, technology, capital, and know-how in an effective framework to foster the growth of new businesses. To spur the birthing of innovations, various sectors of the economy such as health, education, etc. can be targeted with grants to develop applications that are specific to the sector. The idea of incubators to support new start-ups will be pursued through the creation of a national framework for business incubators. A directory of incubators in the country and their capacities will be created. ‘To spur the birthing of innovations, various sectors of the economy such as health, education, etc. can be targeted with grants to develop applications that are specific to the sector’ In addition, the Government will provide commercialization support framework for innovations, e.g. incentives to local firms involved in 91 Towards a Digital Kenya ..............................................................................................................................................................