As a research, policy and technology-oriented organization, Konza Technopolis provides an ideal location for ACTS to actualise its mission of strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development.
Members of the ACTS Governing Council (GC) and Secretariat after holding a meeting with senior Managers of Konza Technopolis.
ACTS is exploring possibilities of setting up an office at Konza Technopolis - an upcoming innovation and technology hub focusing on information technology, business process outsourcing and research development.
In February 2023, ACTS Governing Council (GC) visited the facility and met with the top leadership to to appraise and evaluate its value proposition and make a decision on the next steps.
During the visit, GC chair, Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, said the organization needed a place to a call home and Konza was the most ideal location.
“ACTS has always been occupying space in different parts of Nairobi since its establishment 34 years ago and it has dawned in us that it is probably better to find a place that we can call home. Konza is a place that relates very well with our mandate and strategic direction” - ACTS GC Chair, Prof. Oteng-Yeboah
ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, was impressed by the pace of infrastructural development of the facility adding that ACTS was ready to be part of the journey towards exploiting the power of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.
“We are very excited to be part of this journey and look forward to working closely with Konza to promote the agenda of harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development for Kenya and the entire continent of Africa” said Prof. Ogada.
On his part, Konza Technopolis acting Chief Executive Officer, John Paul Okwiri, was excited at the prospect of ACTS taking up space at the hub.
“We are glad the partnership started a few years ago and we will do everything in our power to ensure you settle. We want to work together with you especially on the digitalization aspect. We consider ACTS as our anchor tenant in the technology band,” he said.
Preliminary indications point to ACTS having a satellite office at Konza; discussions are currently underway between the two parties with a view to agreeing on critical administrative protocols. The GC also held discussions with ACTS staff who were generally open to setting up a satellite office at Konza.
Whereas the move to Konza will be gradual, it is expected that the Digital, Innovation and Knowledge Economy (DIKE) programme will be the first to relocate.
