Innovation Agencies in Africa Network

The Innovation Agencies in Africa (IAA) Network was officially launched at the Kenya Innovation Week 2024, bringing together government, academia, and development partners in a landmark effort to strengthen the continent’s innovation systems. With strategic support from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), Department of Science and Innovation, the network launched a new chapter for Africa’s innovation agenda.

The IAA Network aims to boost collaboration and resource-sharing among African innovation agencies, supporting the development of inclusive, sustainable, and locally grounded solutions to some of the continent’s most urgent challenges. At its core, the initiative recognizes the growing need for a more connected innovation landscape—one that harnesses Africa’s intellectual capital, technological potential, and policy coordination to address everything from climate change to economic inequality.

A foundational study by the University of Johannesburg’s Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation (UJ-TRCTI) emphasized the pivotal role of national innovation agencies as intermediaries linking public policy, the private sector, and academic institutions. It is this intersectional capacity that the IAA Network seeks to amplify through joint action and shared learning.

The journey to the network’s launch began in March 2024 with a workshop in Johannesburg that brought together key stakeholders. This meeting laid the groundwork for future cooperation and led to the selection of KeNIA, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) of Namibia, and the University of Johannesburg to coordinate the IAA Network’s pilot phase from 2025 to 2027.

These institutions are tasked with building governance structures, facilitating cross-border innovation initiatives, and aligning national efforts with broader regional development goals.

The launch in Nairobi unveiled a bold vision: a continent where innovation agencies not only respond to national needs but also co-create solutions with their peers across borders. Over the next year, the network will onboard its first 14 member agencies, launch collaborative pilot programmes, and conduct a Training Needs Assessment to guide tailored capacity-building interventions. Early 2025 will see the establishment of the Project Management Office at KeNIA, followed by regional consultations, knowledge-sharing forums, and the initiation of joint funding mechanisms.

The IAA Network also embodies a commitment to inclusivity, green innovation, and digital transformation. It pledges to bridge gender and economic gaps, foster environmentally sustainable practices, and embrace digital tools to expand access and impact.