Plans are underway to launch an initiative to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country.
The green and digital innovation hub that will be unveiled during Kenya Innovation Week 2023 next week will provide MSMEs and start-ups in the countryside with access to technology and innovation resources.
The hub will also help foster a culture of digital innovation and entrepreneurship and equip MSMEs with the tools, skills, and networks necessary to thrive in the digital economy.
Additionally, the hub will serve as a platform for collaboration, learning, and growth while promoting environmentally sustainable business practices.
The Digital Transformation Centre Kenya, a project by the German Development Agency and the European Union, in collaboration with GFA Consulting Group, will unveil the innovation hub.
Bernd Lakemeier, director programmes, Sustainable Economic Development Cluster, GIZ Kenya, emphasised that the hub marks a significant stride towards a more sustainable and digitally advanced Kenya, with its potential to bring about transformative effects on the market and industry.
“As the digital economy evolves and competition becomes more intense, the hub stands as a distinctive platform for MSMEs to level the playing field, ensuring equitable access to digital innovation opportunities for all MSMEs in Kenya, irrespective of their geographical location,” he said.
Prof Tom Ogada, executive director, African Centre for Technology Studies, said embedding a green ethos into technological advancements holds substantial implications for Kenya's sustainable development and economic growth.
“By fostering collaborations with diverse stakeholders and organisations, we are committed to extending the hub's influence beyond Nairobi to encompass all 47 counties, facilitating linkages to expertise, markets, and access to capital beyond the borders of our nation," he said.
The hub will start working in January 2024, operated by a consortium of dedicated Kenyan entities.
The entities include the African Centre for Technology Studies, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the Kenya National Innovation Agency, and Konza Technopolis.
The vision of the hub is to be a one-stop-shop that will contribute to the digital transformation of Kenyan enterprises while promoting sustainable development, a circular economy, environmental protection, and tackling climate change.
It will support Kenyan enterprises in their digital and green transformation.
The hub aims to achieve this by offering services under four key pillars: skills development, access to finance, testing facilities, and innovation ecosystem building.