Konza inks MoU with 9 smart cities for collaboration to support startups

Kenya’s innovation startups stand to benefit following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Konza Technopolis and 9 other smart cities where it will see collaboration on the development of sustainable and innovative smart city ecosystems through targeted support for the startups, enhanced bio industry capabilities and global partnerships.

The MoU, dubbed ‘INCHEON Smart City Summit Initiative’, was signed up with Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority of Korea, Zamfara State and Benue State both from Nigeria, Dakar City, Senegal, Lukumo City and Lusaka City of Zambia, Mumbai Metropolitan Regions Development Authority of Maharashtra, India and Deoria City from Uttar Pradesh.

“The MoU aims to bolster the development of Smart Cities through targeted support for startups, enhanced bio industry capabilities and global partnerships with the aim of creating sustainable and innovative Smart City ecosystems,” said Konza Technopolis CEO, John Paul Okwiri.

The MoU will see the smart cities pursue a number of objectives including exchange and collaboration of startups by provision of startup spaces for them to operate and grow, offering necessary infrastructure and facilities, recruitment of skilled personnel to drive innovation and operational excellence, organizing Startup Idea Competition to encourage innovative ideas and solutions in various fields such as healthcare and biotech industries, fintech. “These competitions offer a platform for new entrepreneurs to present their concepts and receive support for implementation”, Okwiri said

To tract progress, the participating cities will engage in regular communication and meetings to discuss challenges encountered and opportunities available to the startups, share data, insights and best practices to facilitate mutual learning and collaboration, allocate resources and support for the implementation of the agreed-upon actions and foster an inclusive environment that encourages innovation, sustainability and equitable growth within the smart city initiatives.