American multinational technology and consulting company IBM has announced its plans to open the first IBM research lab in Kenya, the first in Africa.
The lab which is a partnership between IBM East Africa and the Kenyan government will see the highest level of applied research across the country be tapped in for the benefit of the citizens.
The lab which will be based at Catholic University will run for a period of five years starting in September this year, and make significant contribution to the financial state of the country by creating jobs for the youth mainly.
Earlier today, President Mwai Kibaki and IBM Global Chief Executive Officer, Ginni Rometty signed a memorandum of understanding to officially flag-off the setting up of the lab.
“Kenya vision is to become the top ICT hub in the continent. IBM’s commitment to undertake the proposed research agenda will contribute greatly to our national priorities as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 agenda,” said Kibaki, adding that: “We look forward to delivering world-class research and innovation through the partnership and playing an important role as an IT leader on the African continent.”
Speaking during the signing off ceremony at Ministry of Information and Communication in Nairobi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Dr Bitange Ndemo lauded the IBM’s effort of choosing Kenya as its destination for the lab, adding that the Ministry has been working hard to realize the dream.
“We have been chasing this project for long and IBM accepting our proposal to build a research lab in Kenya is a way of capacity building. This will now enable us focus on policy building to improve performance of all sectors,” said Ndemo, adding that the project is meant to bring the industry and research together, since the two have been operating on poles apart. Present in the signing off of the project letters was Kenya ICT Board CEO Mr Paul Kukubo cited the projects undertaken by the Board in making Kenya the ICT hub in Africa.
“The Kenya ICT Board has various projects that will compliment the work of the IBM lab. These are in software certification, open data, enterprise incubation and support for public sector digitisation,” said Mr Kukubo, adding that: “We see IBM as a great partner in advancing the agenda the board’s transformation of Kenya.”
It is projected that the lab will not only drive innovation but help market Kenya as a leading modern services economy. The research agendas will be defined by both parties and will have a strong emphasis on solving home-based and African problems. “What happens in a research lab benefits the entire society,” added Kukubo.
The project will greatly benefit the momentum already established in cutting-edge mobile money technology, contribute to the creation of high-value jobs, and bring significant prestige for Kenya.
The Ministry of Information and Communications through the Kenya ICT board will implement the project, which will see Kenyans also gain in knowledge diffusion. The research lab is timely coming on the heels of Konza Techno City Conference in which the country rallied to attract investors into the silicon park that will drive Kenya towards achieving middle-income status.
Under the partnership, Kenya will provide the necessary environment, the physical space, facilitate the lab setting up, while IBM will provide senior specialists, intellectual property and will operate the Lab as part of its world-class network of global research labs.
Both partners are also expected to oversee governance structures at the facility jointly. Africa will be the 12th laboratory in the world-wide IBM network of labs, joining existing labs in Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, India, Ireland, Israel, Switzerland and the United States, as IBM continues to expand its research operations in key growth markets.
Such strategy would need the input, cooperation, and commitment of many parties. It needs to be led by the industry and involve partnerships with the government and education and training providers.
Vice President and Services Research in IBM Dr. Robert JT Morris said that IBM wants to be part of the information-based economy and with the research lab which will draw people from all walks of life will be the hub for East Africa.
“We believe in innovation based on our IBM research, a project undertaken by over 3000 researchers. The IBM research lab will serve as the research hub for East Africa. This shows our desire in helping Kenya be a leading ICT hub in the continent and we are proud to be part of a knowledge-based society in Kenya,” said Dr Morris.
The writer is a Communication and Journalism Student at Moi University
