A network of 500 innovation hubs in 53 African countries is being established to build a continent-wide force to drive inclusive advances in technology, empower local solutions, and catalyse transformative economic growth.
This comes after AfriLabs, the largest pan-African network of innovation hubs, and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week to accelerate digital innovation in Africa.
The MoU in part addresses the widening gap between Africa’s digital potential and current internet access levels.
In a joint statement, the two said despite projections that continent’s internet economy could reach $712 billion by 2050; only 38% of Africans were online in 2024, marking the lowest penetration rate among regions covered by the International Telecommunications Union.
It went on to say recognising the potential growth in mobile internet adoption—forecasted to add nearly a quarter of global new users by 2030 in Sub-Saharan Africa—and anticipating 247 million 5G connections within the same period, ATU and AfriLabs aims to focus their collaboration on nurturing solutions tailored to Africa’s diverse markets so that this surge in connectivity translates into inclusive digital opportunity.
The statement, added: “Under the partnership, both organisations will jointly promote Africa’s innovation ecosystem. This is expected to take the form of integrating communications across networks of both organisations such as through the annual ATU Africa Innovation Challenge and AfriLabs capacity building programmes which provide mentorship, resources and highlights flagship innovations.”
A significant part of the agreement, according to ATU and AfriLabs, is the establishment of a joint programme for Intellectual Property (IP) protection and commercialisation for African innovators.
ATU and AfriLabs will champion policies that strengthen the IP ecosystem and support African startups in protecting their innovations. They will further engage with policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders to shape a conducive regulatory environment for digital transformation and innovation, the statement said.
John Omo, secretary general of ATU, commented: “Our entrepreneurs have the ideas and resilience; however, they continue to face challenges such as fragmented regulations and limited continental visibility.
“This collaboration with AfriLabs seeks to provide a framework that will enable ATU and AfriLabs to address some of these challenges and innovators to concentrate on addressing practical issues rather than bureaucratic hurdles.”
Anna Ekeledo, executive Director of AfriLabs, stated that the alliance is a watershed moment in Africa's digital journey, bringing together our pan-African network of innovation hubs, innovators, and entrepreneurs with ATU's regulatory and institutional influence.
Ekeledo said: “We are laying the groundwork for a future where every entrepreneur, regardless of location, can turn bold ideas into scalable solutions. Together, we will dismantle barriers, cultivate local talent, and build an ecosystem that not only accelerates connectivity but also ensures that the breakthroughs born here are protected, celebrated, and competitive on the global stage.”
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