AMECEA: CUEA to Become ICT Giant in the Continent
The Catholic
University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) will soon be a giant in ICT technology
after the entering into partnership with U.S.-based Corporation, The
International Business Machines (IBM) by establishing a research Laboratory at
the Campus.
University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) will soon be a giant in ICT technology
after the entering into partnership with U.S.-based Corporation, The
International Business Machines (IBM) by establishing a research Laboratory at
the Campus.
The CUEA research lab
will be the first in Africa and twelfth in the world-wide IBM network of
laboratories.
will be the first in Africa and twelfth in the world-wide IBM network of
laboratories.
The initiative is a
collaboration between the Kenya Ministry of Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) through the Kenya ICT Board and IBM which finally was endorsed
by signing of the memorandum of understanding between President Mwai Kibaki and
IBM Global Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty to officially flag-off the
setting up of the lab at Harambee House
in Nairobi, Kenya on the 13th of August 2012.
collaboration between the Kenya Ministry of Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) through the Kenya ICT Board and IBM which finally was endorsed
by signing of the memorandum of understanding between President Mwai Kibaki and
IBM Global Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty to officially flag-off the
setting up of the lab at Harambee House
in Nairobi, Kenya on the 13th of August 2012.
President Kibaki said
the Lab will not only drive innovation but also increase the momentum already
established in cutting-edge money technology, create high level jobs and
bringing significant prestige to Kenya.
the Lab will not only drive innovation but also increase the momentum already
established in cutting-edge money technology, create high level jobs and
bringing significant prestige to Kenya.
The Head of State
also observed that through the partnership the project will deliver world class
research and innovation while enabling Kenya to play an important role as an
ICT leader in the continent.
also observed that through the partnership the project will deliver world class
research and innovation while enabling Kenya to play an important role as an
ICT leader in the continent.
He said the presence
of the new global research lab in the country will align Kenya’s three pillars
of global competitiveness and enhance the country’s leadership position as an
innovation hub in the continent.
of the new global research lab in the country will align Kenya’s three pillars
of global competitiveness and enhance the country’s leadership position as an
innovation hub in the continent.
President Kibaki
expressed the government’s commitment to providing the necessary environment,
physical space and facilitating the lab set-up at the Catholic University of
Eastern Africa, through the Ministry of Information and Communications and ICT
Board as implementing agencies for the government.
expressed the government’s commitment to providing the necessary environment,
physical space and facilitating the lab set-up at the Catholic University of
Eastern Africa, through the Ministry of Information and Communications and ICT
Board as implementing agencies for the government.
The lab will conduct
basic and applied research focused on solving problems relevant to Africa and
contributing to the building of a science and technology base for the
continent.
basic and applied research focused on solving problems relevant to Africa and
contributing to the building of a science and technology base for the
continent.
According to Tony
Mwai, the country general manager for IBM East Africa, one goal of this
research lab is to develop government capabilities that will help people make
better use of public sector services, and allow the government to digitally
manage huge amounts of data.
Mwai, the country general manager for IBM East Africa, one goal of this
research lab is to develop government capabilities that will help people make
better use of public sector services, and allow the government to digitally
manage huge amounts of data.
At the launching
event of the project at Inter-continental hotel, in Nairobi Kenya on the
evening of 13th of August 2012, IBM promised to deliver world-class research and innovation as part of their
IBM’s Smarter Planet initiative and playing an important role as an IT leader
on the African continent.
event of the project at Inter-continental hotel, in Nairobi Kenya on the
evening of 13th of August 2012, IBM promised to deliver world-class research and innovation as part of their
IBM’s Smarter Planet initiative and playing an important role as an IT leader
on the African continent.
Above all IBM plans
to work closely with leading African scientists and engineers from academia,
government and industry to address some of their most pressing challenges and
greatest opportunities.
to work closely with leading African scientists and engineers from academia,
government and industry to address some of their most pressing challenges and
greatest opportunities.
Operations at IBM
Research – Africa will commence immediately. Expansion into other parts of
Africa may be considered in a second phase.
Research – Africa will commence immediately. Expansion into other parts of
Africa may be considered in a second phase.
Speaking at the same
event the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communication and
Technology Dr. Bitange Ndemo said that the IBM research lab, will not only
rubber stamp Kenya as Africa’s leader in ICT, but will help the country to
transform into a knowledge based economy.
event the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communication and
Technology Dr. Bitange Ndemo said that the IBM research lab, will not only
rubber stamp Kenya as Africa’s leader in ICT, but will help the country to
transform into a knowledge based economy.
Kenya CEO of ICT
Board Mr Paul Kukubo who was at the launching with his team said that the
partnership with IBM will help advance the ICT Board’s agenda of transforming
Kenya.
Board Mr Paul Kukubo who was at the launching with his team said that the
partnership with IBM will help advance the ICT Board’s agenda of transforming
Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of
the University at the launching event the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic
University of Eastern Africa Rev Dr Pius Rutechura expressed gratitude to IBM
for choosing CUEA as a location of their project and for the swiftness of the
process of decision making. He promised a further greater collaboration towards
realization of the project.
the University at the launching event the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic
University of Eastern Africa Rev Dr Pius Rutechura expressed gratitude to IBM
for choosing CUEA as a location of their project and for the swiftness of the
process of decision making. He promised a further greater collaboration towards
realization of the project.
The new lab will
establish a Resident Scientist Program, an international recruitment program to
reach Kenyan and other African applicants. The program will aim to attract top
R&D talent to work side-by-side with IBM researchers in the lab.
establish a Resident Scientist Program, an international recruitment program to
reach Kenyan and other African applicants. The program will aim to attract top
R&D talent to work side-by-side with IBM researchers in the lab.
The Resident
Scientist candidates will be pre- and post-doctoral researchers including
scientists and researchers from academia, government and industry. The Resident
Scientists will begin with a one-year tenure with options for extension.
Scientist candidates will be pre- and post-doctoral researchers including
scientists and researchers from academia, government and industry. The Resident
Scientists will begin with a one-year tenure with options for extension.
IBM will integrate
leading African scientists and engineers from the government and the industry
to expand its operations in key growth markets to bring the continent into the
global network of research laboratories.
leading African scientists and engineers from the government and the industry
to expand its operations in key growth markets to bring the continent into the
global network of research laboratories.
The lab will
establish an international recruitment program to reach Kenyan and other
African applicants with the aim of attracting top research and development
talent to work side by side with IBM researchers in the lab,” she said.
establish an international recruitment program to reach Kenyan and other
African applicants with the aim of attracting top research and development
talent to work side by side with IBM researchers in the lab,” she said.
IBM will conduct
research in three key areas including next generation public sector to help advance e-government
capabilities, smarter cities with the initial focus on water and transportation
and human capacity development to boost the innovation culture in Kenya and to
engage local entrepreneurs and innovators in developing solutions that matter
to Kenyans.
research in three key areas including next generation public sector to help advance e-government
capabilities, smarter cities with the initial focus on water and transportation
and human capacity development to boost the innovation culture in Kenya and to
engage local entrepreneurs and innovators in developing solutions that matter
to Kenyans.
SOURCE: AMECEA Social Communications department
