By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The timbuktoo HealthTech Hub
in Kigali has hosted senior representatives from academia and international
development partners for discussions on strengthening Africa’s health
technology ecosystem and supporting young innovators.
UNDP Rwanda Resident
Representative Fatmata Lovetta Sesay led a tour of the Hub for Prof. Philip
Cotton, Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), and
Billy Stewart, Director of Development at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development
Office (FCDO).
During the visit, the
delegation engaged with startups operating from the Hub and explored
opportunities to strengthen connections between universities, innovation hubs
and entrepreneurs working on health technology solutions.
Discussions centred on the
need to create stronger pathways linking academic institutions and young
innovators to opportunities, expertise and support needed to develop and scale
solutions addressing healthcare challenges across Africa.
The engagement highlighted
the potential of closer collaboration between academia, government partners and
the private innovation ecosystem to accelerate the development and adoption of
health technology solutions.
The timbuktoo HealthTech
Hub, based in Kigali, provides a platform for startups and innovators working
in health technology to develop ideas, access networks and build solutions with
potential impact across African markets.
The engagement forms part of
broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem by connecting young
entrepreneurs with institutions and partners capable of providing technical
expertise, resources and opportunities for growth.
