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The TECH4Transition team in Kenya: a milestone for TECHgrow

PUBLISHED ON
24.01.2025
Author
Emma Schmitt
Category
Backstage
Overview

Meeting key players in the Kenyan innovation ecosystem

 

During the week-long trip, the team met with several key players in the Kenyan innovation ecosystem, including representatives from technology centres, universities, start-up incubators, NGOs and government organisations. These discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and innovators and helped to define the requirements for the TECHgrow programme. A key theme was the need for sustainable technology solutions that create economic opportunities and solve local problems.

 

Co-creation workshop and tailored solutions

 

A highlight was the co-creation workshop, in which local partners worked together to develop solutions for adapting the TECHGrow programme to the requirements of the Kenyan and African innovation landscape. The workshop promoted the exchange of perspectives and ensured collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers to optimise the programme.

Visiting leading technology universities

 

The team also visited two leading technology universities in Kenya that play a key role in research and training skilled workers in sustainable technology solutions. Discussions with professors and students highlighted the importance of integrating academic institutions into innovative projects and promoting practice-oriented innovation projects to support the next generation of green entrepreneurs.

 

Kenya Innovation Week: networking and exchange

 

Another highlight was the participation in the Kenya Innovation Week, an important event for innovators, entrepreneurs and universities. Here, the team was able to establish new contacts and deepen existing ones.

The on-site exchange on the GIZ SPARK project also opened up opportunities for collaboration between the two initiatives. By sharing knowledge and resources regionally, the impact of both programmes could be enhanced to promote sustainable solutions and support economic development in Africa.

The trip was organised by Circle Innovation, the regional implementation partner of the TECHgrow programme. Circle Innovation ensured that the team came into contact with the right stakeholders and was able to establish important partnerships.

 

Outlook: TECHgrow launches in January 2025

 

The insights gained in Kenya are now being incorporated into the development of the programme, which will launch in January 2025. Through close collaboration with local stakeholders and international partners such as the GIZ SPARK project, a strong network of innovators and entrepreneurs will emerge that will have a long-term positive impact on the economy.

More information about TECH4Transition can be found here.

TECH4Transition was developed by KIT and is being implemented in collaboration with GIZ.

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