Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) and the Embassy of Israel in Kenya have partnered to host an innovation challenge to address the technology-driven needs of the technopolis.
The challenge dubbed “Konza innovation challenge” targets innovations in response to the advancement of Konza Technopolis, that will utilize technology to power the city’s smart ambitions.
According to KOTDA Chief Executive Officer Engineer John Tanui, the challenge will provide an opportunity for innovators in Kenya and Israel to solve the immediate and long-term needs of Konza technopolis with a focus on smart access control, intelligent asset management, smart parking management and smart traffic management solution.
He further added that the challenge shall provide an opportunity for innovator cross-pollination and deepen collaborations between the two countries.
Speaking at Konza Technopolis during a networking session with innovators from hubs across the country, Israel Ambassador to Kenya, Oded Joseph said his country is keen on developing cooperation on innovation, adding that Kenya is an excellent partner.
“Here we can find the heartbeat of talent and a thriving innovation system. We see many hubs being grown here. The fact that there are growing hubs here is very important and that is a field for cooperation with Israeli hubs. We have promising partners like Konza Technopolis, a smart city that is known as Silicon Savannah,” he said.
The Youth development solutions are the centre for the initiative with what Joseph said was looking forward to seeing solutions that can be adopted in Konza, and do them with Israeli, collaboratively.
Israel has more than 9,488 start-ups, with its high-tech industry producing about 1,000 new innovative companies every year.
The majority of these investments are in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech and food tech.
In 2020, despite the Coronavirus Pandemic, investments totaled more than Ksh1 trillion (USD10 billion) in 607 deals exceeding 2019 results by 31 percent in the capital and 20 percent in the number of deals.
The Bloomberg 2021 innovation index ranks Israel 7th among the most innovative countries in the world, and number one in raising venture capital per capita.
