AMECEA: US tech Giant IBM opens its first Africa research lab at CUEA
the first commercial technology research facility in Africa at an inauguration ceremony
held at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on 8th
November 2013.
Delivering his speech at the opening ceremony President Uhuru
Kenyatta said the establishment of this research laboratory underpins the
government’s commitment to innovation ecosystems that are already available in
Kenya. “Using innovation to drive
homegrown solutions, Kenya continues to lead the continent in ICT. My
government is proud that Kenya, and indeed Africa, will benefit from the presence
of one of the most advanced research facilities, with some of the world’s most
talented people, using some of the most powerful technologies to develop
solutions for some of Africa’s most intractable problems,” he said.
also thanked the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for
hosting IBM in its
premises. “I also wish to thank the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for
providing the land on which this Laboratory is hosted. Your commitment to
building strategic partnerships for excellence in research, science and technology
is indeed welcome,” he said adding that “I am very encouraged by this
partnership between the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology
through the ICT Board, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and the IBM
Cooperation.”
President and the dignitaries attended the opening ceremony the Vice Chancellor
of
CUEA Dr Pius Rutechura said The church and community of the Eastern Africa
region made up of the nine countries that own the University were very excited
to receive the news of the establishment of the IMB Laboratory at our
Institution, the first of its kind in Africa. “We are grateful to the IBM
fraternity and the Government of Kenya for conducting a very transparent and
competitive search that led to the choice of our University. The dream has
become a reality. I am glad say that the Laboratory has put the name of our
University on the map of excellence and we promise to keep terms of engagement
as per the MOU that we signed.
University, we have put to your disposal, our Facilities, reliable networks up
to the grassroots
in the AMECEA region together with our Staff and Students to
further the mission and vision of the Laboratory. We look forward to have
stronger collaboration to the good of our institutions,” said the Vice
Chancellor.
the center is highlighting Kenya’s growing status as the continent’s tech hub
with the facility tasked with developing and deploying innovative IT
applications to tackle challenges such as inefficiencies in public procurement,
water and sanitation, energy management, financial inclusion, traffic
congestion and food insecurity which have hampered economic growth in Africa.
Lab will focus on three key research areas which include digitization of public
service through e-governance solutions; urban development and planning; and ICT
skills training.
US tech giant firm
said it will use cognitive computing — using computer systems to analyze and
process data to help people make decisions — to come up with
commercially-viable solutions for Africa’s challenges.
Nairobi-based research facility becomes the 12th in the world after those in
Australia, Brazil, China, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Switzerland and the
US.
AMECEA Social Communication Office
