Image courtesy of KAIST
DAEJEON, Jun. 4 (Korea Bizwire) –The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) signed two memorandums of understanding on June 4, bolstering its collaborations with emerging scientific institutions in Kenya to address pressing global issues.
One agreement was inked with the board of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST), an institution modeled after KAIST that is being established in the Konza Technopolis, an ambitious technology hub dubbed Africa’s Silicon Valley.
The two institutes aim to conduct joint research to tackle international challenges like climate crisis, digital transformation, and energy transition, as well as issues faced by the Global South, such as food and water scarcity and industrialization.
The establishment of Kenya-AIST has been supported by South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). With an initial six departments including mechanical engineering and nuclear engineering, the institute is slated for completion this year, with the goal of welcoming the first cohort of students in 2025.
Additionally, Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy is pursuing the establishment of a Digital Media City within Konza Technopolis, seeking to emulate South Korea’s success in leveraging science and technology for industrialization and digitization.
In a trilateral arrangement, KAIST also signed an agreement with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), building upon a previous memorandum from November 2023. The collaboration aims to improve vaccine development, clinical research, and local production tailored to Africa’s needs, with Kenya-AIST playing a central role.
The IVI plans to open its first African country office in Kenya in the latter half of this year, which will also house the Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities Africa (AVEC Africa) office.
The three partners will support training healthcare and vaccine professionals in the African region, developing curricula and faculty for Kenya-AIST, and facilitating student and researcher exchanges along with internship programs.
The signing ceremonies coincided with the Korea-Africa Summit, a two-day event hosted at KAIST’s campus in Dogok, Seoul.
“Kenya-AIST is the first overseas institution modeled after KAIST,” said Kim Kyung-soo, KAIST’s vice president for external relations. “From its inception, we aim to create a model for multilateral science and technology cooperation by collaborating with international organizations like the IVI.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
