New AI innovation hub aims to position Ethiopia as regional leader

Ethiopia has launched a new Artificial Intelligence University Innovation Pod in Addis Ababa, marking a significant step in its ambition to become Africa’s leading AI hub.

The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute leads the initiative in partnership with Addis Ababa University and the UN Development Programme, under the latter’s Timbuktoo Initiative.

Officials say the centre is designed to strengthen national AI capacity, promote homegrown technological solutions and build a sustainable innovation ecosystem. The AI UniPod will support university students, researchers and start-ups working on advanced digital technologies, with a focus on transforming young people from job seekers into technology creators.

The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute highlighted recent achievements, including patented tools for breast cancer diagnosis and coffee seed identification, as evidence of the country’s growing technological capability. Leaders described the new facility as a shift from ambition to practical implementation of AI.

Data sovereignty was emphasised as a central pillar of the strategy. Authorities argued that control over digital infrastructure and data resources is essential for national sovereignty, particularly as AI becomes embedded in economic and public systems.

The government views the AI UniPod as a long-term platform for innovation, aimed not only at Ethiopia but also at the wider African continent.

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