This partnership brings together two influential players to strengthen Africa’s innovation and startup ecosystems — critical drivers of job creation, digital transformation, and economic growth.

AfriLabs, the pan-African network of innovation hubs, has signed a collaboration agreement with Kenya’s Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) to catalyze inclusive technology development, foster entrepreneurship, and expand Africa’s innovation economy. The agreement was announced July 18 and comes ahead of the highly anticipated 10th edition of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG2025), scheduled to take place in Nairobi from October 7–9.

AfriLabs Executive Director Anna Ekeledo said, “This partnership represents our shared commitment to scaling African innovation through collaborative infrastructure, talent exchange, and knowledge networks. We’re proud to work alongside Konza Technopolis as we expand our mission to empower Africa’s next generation of innovators.”

The collaboration brings together two influential institutions working at the crossroads of innovation policy and sustainable development. Together, AfriLabs and Konza will co-design and implement programs that support startups, enhance ecosystem capacity, facilitate cross-border collaboration, and unlock investment opportunities across the continent.

Konza Technopolis will serve as the Strategic Government Partner for AAG2025 — a flagship event under the new partnership. In this role, KoTDA will mobilize national stakeholders, host thematic exhibitions, and facilitate high-level participation to shape the event’s central theme: “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships, and Progress.”

The collaboration focuses on developing soft-landing programs, joint ventures, and innovation showcases; supporting IP registration and tech transfer; and conducting joint research in AI, clean tech, health tech, and smart infrastructure. It also includes training bootcamps and knowledge-sharing for innovators and policymakers, linking Konza-based startups to AfriLabs’ Catalytic Africa fund and investor network, facilitating cross-border startup exchanges, and using Konza’s infrastructure as a testbed for smart city and IoT solutions.

With a network spanning 53 African countries, AfriLabs is poised to leverage its extensive reach to deepen impact through this long-term partnership. The collaboration also aligns with Konza’s mission to drive Kenya’s digital transformation through innovation-driven development.

Konza Technopolis, often referred to as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, is a flagship Smart City initiative under Kenya’s Vision 2030—the national blueprint to position Kenya as a newly industrializing, middle-income economy. The city is envisioned to contribute at least 2% to Kenya’s GDP, reinforcing the country’s role as a premier tech and innovation hub on the continent—making it a fitting strategic partner for the 2025 AfriLabs Annual Gathering and broader pan-African innovation efforts.

The partnership benefits a wide range of stakeholders: startups and innovators gain access to funding, mentorship, and real-world test environments; youth and digital professionals benefit from upskilling opportunities and enhanced job readiness; governments and policymakers are supported with research-backed strategies to advance smart cities and digital public infrastructure; and investors and ecosystem enablers gain exposure to a pipeline of more investable and scalable ventures.

Hikmatu Bilali