AfriLabs, a pan-African network of technology innovation hubs, has announced the addition of eleven new hubs on the continent.

The new hubs include nHub, Startupreneurs and iBridge from Nigeria; inCUBE8 from Malawi; Democratic Republic of Congo-based Lumumba Labs; Wenak Labs from Chad; Kenya's Sote Hub and BitHub; The Innovation Village Kampala from Uganda; as well as The Tech Village in Zimbabwe and dLab in Tanzania.

AfriLabs says it is working with the technology hubs to build innovative infrastructure that encourages the growth of Africa's knowledge economy.

This is done by supporting the development of start-ups, technology, and innovation, fostering partnerships between tech hubs across the different regions and promoting opportunities.

AfriLabs has also revealed that it is joining forces with the ICT 4 Social Innovation Network, founded by not-for-profit organisation SPIDER and Kenya's iHub to encourage the use digital tools to advance development in health, education and rights in Africa.

Anne Salim, Network Manager for ICT 4 Social Innovation /iHub, which has a membership of more than 35 organisations, has lauded the new partnership with AfriLabs.

"Social Innovation is borne out of creatively approaching the hindrances which stall development, whether in making sure that children access quality education irrespective of where they live, online security for rights advocates, or professional development for health workers. The ICT 4 Social Innovation Network already shares some of its members with AfriLabs, we are delighted to extend this partnership and confident that our alignment will bring new innovative solutions to the table"

Anna Ekeledo, Head of Secretariat at AfriLabs adds that African tech hubs are at the forefront of technical solutions tailored for the African continent and that by joining forces with the ICT4SI Network "we make sure that synergies of knowledge, opportunities and resources are strategically joined for greater impact and sustainability".

Ekeledo says increasing the number of technology hubs in the AfriLabs network is a continuous process. "We are constantly looking to partner with tech hubs and other stakeholders of technology related businesses to advocate for collaboration & co-creation, for better enabling policies, access to the right tools, environment and finance to scale in Africa. We are pleased to have these new hubs join our network."

The creation of and strengthening of relationships between technology hubs this week comes has been followed up by an announcement by Nigeria's Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), and Google for Entrepreneurs of a three week, five-city European tech hub tour for selected startups under the name PitchDrive.

Fifteen African startups who apply and are selected for the initiative will pitch to investors, explore international opportunities, and learn about frontier technology markets starting in London on August, according to the organisers.