The 24-month project was initiated by GIZ out of an urgent need to support green and digital transformation in the MSME sector.
An in depth analysis into the Kenya Innovation Ecosystem found that SMEs faced multiple barriers that hindered their performance. To address these challenges, the GIZ through its Digital Transformation Center set out to establish a Hub that would act as in intervention and strengthen the Kenyan Innovation Ecosystem. The bid to establish the Hub was won by the ACTS consortium comprising of 6 leading institutions in the Kenya Innovation Ecosystem;
The bid to establish a Green and Digital Innovation Hub in Kenya was won on 30th June 2023, by The ACTS Consortium comprising of 6 Key institutions: the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). This consortium embodies a diverse representation of the Kenyan innovation ecosystem and is one of the Key Strengths of the gDIH.
The gDIH was officially launched on 28th November 2023 during the Kenya Innovation Week to be a one stop shop that will contribute to the digital transformation of Kenyan enterprises while promoting sustainable development, circular economy, environmental protection and tackling climate change. This will be done through four key pillars: skills development, access to finance, testing facilities, and innovation ecosystem building.
During the project period, the gDIH’s tried to cultivate a culture of digital innovation and entrepreneurship by providing MSMEs and start-ups with the tools, skills, and networks supporting them towards the twin (green and digital) transition.
The project managed to realize significant achievements; Over 1,200 innovators and MSMEs have been directly supported, with at least 40% of enterprises being women-led. Youth empowerment has also been a core focus of the Hub, recognizing young people as key drivers of innovation.
Implementation was organized through a results-oriented work package approach strengthened by the institutional capacity of consortium members—ACTS, KeNIA, Konza Technopolis, JKUAT, KIRDI, and KALRO. Key achievements include promoting technologies such as clean cookstoves to reduce carbon emissions, and improve energy efficiency; training 229 innovators on IP and commercialization strategies; enabling 29 MSMEs to validate and prototype solutions in real-world settings; supporting 9 Green and Digital MSMEs to patent and trademark their innovations; linking 16 MSMEs to finance and investment opportunities; and equipping at least 800 innovators with essential technical, entrepreneurial, and digital skills.
The Hub has now commenced its scale up phase, marked by the rollout of Digital Platforms Kenya (DigiKen) Program through 15 regional Digital Innovation Hubs. This program has further extended the Hub’s model across 12 counties, providing communities with access to digital tools, training, and support for green and digital technologies.
Additionally, the gDIH continues to support innovators through the gDIH Website which contains robust Digital Ecosystem Platforms such as the gDIH Funding Directory, Research Centers Testing Map, gDIH Success Stories and IP support.
