Rwanda has unveiled its first ever tech hub dubbed klab in the country’s capital Kigali, to promote ICT innovations.
This comes after the Rwandan government and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) initiated the Rwanda Innovation Endowment Fund (RIEF) to promote ICT innovation for Rwanda’s social and economic development.
Analysts say there still appeared to be a hub amid the efforts, prompting the creation of the innovation hub.
kLab stemmed from Kenya’s iHub principles of promotion of innovative technologies and entrepreneurs.
The innovation incubator will also link startups to investors and is expected to spur the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth, as well as enhance development in the country.
kLab will also marshal the tech community in Kigali to share ideas, skills and tasks.
“It will bring together students, engineers and designers, allowing them to share ideas and link up with entrepreneurs and investors,” said an official from the Carnegie-Mellon University.
Graphic designer, Eugene Rwagasore who won the kLab’s logo competition said the numbers are there but it takes more, “the truth is that a group scattered doesn’t connect, misses the benefits that cohesion brings.”
He added that having kLab as a focal point, a place where minds can meet, interact and share will help create that community.
kLab will be based in Rwanda’s ICT Park and its slogan, “Community, Innovation and Openness” already demonstrates what it’s focused on.
The project is a result of Rwanda’s ministry of Information and communications technology’s joint partnership with Rwanda’s Carnegie-Mellon University and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
