DeKUT signs an agreement with UNECA to establish the Origin Research and Innovation Labs

DeKUT signs a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA) to establish the Origin Research and Innovations Labs.

The agreement signed by Prof. Peter Ng'ang'a Muchiri, Vice-chancellor for DeKUT, and Mr. Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa, provides a framework for DeKUT to host and develop the Origin Research and Innovations Labs Physical Hub of East Africa. Following the signing, which took place at the beginning of the Second Forum of the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa (AEUA), Dr. Victor Konde, Scientific Affairs Officer at UNECA, elaborated on the concept of Origin Research and Innovation Labs (called the Origin) and indicated that ECA will establish four physical hubs one in each of four other regions: South Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, and North Africa. Prof. Paul Ndirangu Kioni, former VC of DeKUT who is currently championing this initiative, gave a status report on the development of the Physical Hub of East Africa, including the origin website, which is now live at https://originlabsafrica.org/

Mr. Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of UNECA and Prof. Peter Ng'ang'a Muchiri, Vice-chancellor of DeKUT

Origin will work with AEUA to transform Africa's research- innovation, and entrepreneurship landscape. The AEUA Forum set an ambitious goal for African Universities to create 1 million startups that generate US$100 billion in revenue for Universities in 10 years. Origin will play an essential catalytic role in attaining this noble goal. A Project Document will guide the hub's development for the next three years signed between UNECA and DeKUT.