The Africa Institute Strengthens Innovation Partnerships Between Germany and Kenya

Gearbox is one of East Africa’s leading makerspaces and innovation hubs. The organization provides startups, research institutions, and companies with state-of-the-art infrastructure for the development, prototyping, and manufacturing of hardware solutions. Through the Gearbox Europlacer joint venture, it is also strengthening electronics manufacturing and the development of regional value chains in Africa.

Insights into Kenya’s Innovation Landscape

As a panelist at the Africa 2026 Economic Forum, Dr. Gachigi spoke about Kenya’s potential as a hub for industrial production and innovation. He highlighted the opportunities for collaboration between German industry and African innovation ecosystems.

During his visit, Dr. Gachigi, together with the former director of the Africa Institute, Prof. Dr. Thomas Bayer, established further contacts with companies and institutions in the regional innovation landscape. The itinerary included visits to Bosch Rexroth, the Ulm Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Ulm), the Bluekazi Group, TFU GmbH, the Founders Space at HNU, and the World Food Programme’s Innovation Accelerator.

Shaping Innovation Together

The discussions focused on topics such as industrial development, skilled workforce training, entrepreneurship, and innovation partnerships. The exchange highlighted the potential for collaboration between German engineering expertise and the innovative strength of African companies and startups.

Gachigi’s visit underscores the importance of personal encounters for building long-term partnerships. Through dialogue among stakeholders from business, academia, and the innovation sector, the Africa Institute strengthens the ties between Germany’s and Africa’s innovation ecosystems and lays the groundwork for joint projects.