<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto">This an excellent beginning. I hope our universities will start to <VAR id=yui-ie-cursor></VAR>create the positions of Post-Doctoral fellows to concentrate on research.</SPAN></div>
<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"></SPAN> </div>
<div style="RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto">John Kariuki</SPAN></div>
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<DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=hr readonly="true" contenteditable="false"></DIV><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Paul Kukubo <pkukubo@ict.go.ke><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> ngethe.kariuki2007@yahoo.co.uk <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Monday, 13 August 2012, 15:39<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [kictanet] Kenya becomes the first African beneficiary of IBM research lab<BR></FONT></DIV><BR>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Press Release</SPAN></B></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Kenya becomes the first African beneficiary of IBM research lab</SPAN></B></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU><BR><B>August 13, 2012, Nairobi, Kenya – </B>The government today announced the opening of the first IBM research lab in Kenya. This makes Nairobi the premier location for IBM research in the African continent.<A href="" name=_GoBack rel=nofollow></A><B></B></SPAN></div>
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<div class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The lab, a collaboration between Kenya and IBM East Africa, will see the partners each contribute $10 million dollars (Ksh830 million), over a period of five years.</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Earlier today, President Mwai Kibaki and IBM Global Chief Executive Officer, Ginni Rometty signed a memorandum of understanding to officially flag-off the setting up of the lab. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>“Kenya vision is to become the top ICT hub in the continent. IBM’s commitment to undertake the proposed research agenda will contribute greatly to our national priorities as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 agenda,” said His Excellency</SPAN><SPAN> Honorable</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU> Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya. “We look forward to delivering world-class research and innovation through the partnership and playing an important role as an IT leader on the African continent.”</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>It is projected that the lab will not only drive innovation but help market Kenya as a leading modern services economy. The research agendas will be defined by both parties and will have a strong emphasis on solving home-based and African problems.</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The project will greatly benefit the momentum already established in cutting-edge mobile money technology, contribute to the creation of high-value jobs, and bring significant prestige for Kenya.</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU></SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>“IBM continues to expand its operations in key growth markets and we plan to lead the way by bringing Africa into our global network of IBM Research laboratories,” said Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research. “We will work closely with leading African scientists and engineers from academia, government and industry to address some of their most pressing challenges and greatest opportunities.” </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The Ministry of Information and Communications through the Kenya ICT board will implement the project, which will see Kenyans also gain in knowledge diffusion. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Speaking on the partnership, PS, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Bitange Ndemo said: "In today’s world, innovation is the main lever for a competitive national economy, is a source of employment, and has the potential to improve lives. The IBM research lab, will not only rubber stamp Kenya as Africa’s leader in ICT, but will help the country to transform into a knowledge based economy.” </SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>He was speaking at a press briefing held at Kenya ICT Board offices, and attended by Paul Kukubo, CEO, Kenya ICT Board, Robert Morris, Vice President, Services Research IBM, Michael Browne, IBM Research, Director of Technical Strategy, Kumar Bhaskaran and Program Director Technology & Strategy at IBM Research, Shanghai, China. Others were Mugo Kibati, Director General Vision 2030, Josphat Karanja, Head of Infrastructure, Kenya Education Network (KENET), Takreem El-Tohamy, IBM General Manager, Middle East and Africa and Tony Mwai, Country General Manager for IBM East Africa. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The research lab is timely coming on the heels of Konza Techno City Conference in which the country rallied to attract investors into the silicon park that will drive Kenya towards achieving middle-income status.</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Under the partnership, </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Kenya will provide the necessary environment, the physical space, facilitate the lab setting up, while IBM will provide senior specialists, intellectual property and will operate the Lab as part of its world-class network of global research labs. Both partners are also expected to oversee governance structures at the facility jointly. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>“The Kenya ICT Board has various projects that will compliment the work of the IBM lab. These are in software certification, open data, enterprise incubation and support for public sector digitisation,” Mr Paul Kukubo, the CEO of Kenya ICT Board, said. “We see IBM as a great partner in advancing the agenda the board’s transformation of Kenya,” Mr Kukubo added. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The research facility is expected to be operational this September and will have its base in Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Africa will be the 12th laboratory in the world-wide IBM network of labs, joining existing labs in Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, India, Ireland, Israel, Switzerland and the United States, as IBM continues to expand its research operations in key growth markets. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>ENDS</SPAN></B></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Background Information:</SPAN></B></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>About Kenya ICT Board</SPAN></B></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>The Kenya ICT Board was established by HE President Mwai Kibaki, as a state corporation under the State Corporations Act Cap. 446 on 19th February 2007. The Kenya ICT Board’s mission is to champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment. Its vision is that Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub by 2030. </SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU> </SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Capacity building programs are needed to establish a national strategy to properly address skills and training issues.</SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Such strategy would need the input, cooperation, and commitment of many parties. It needs to be led by the industry and involve partnerships with the government and education and training providers. </SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>IBM Research</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-AU> - Africa will join existing labs in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Switzerland and the United States. IBM Research laboratories are credited with the creation of many of the foundations of information technology, including the invention of relational database, disk storage, DRAM memory and much more. IBM Research has been recognized with 5 Nobel Prizes, and many leading scientific and technical medals and awards. Recently IBM Research created a question-answering supercomputer called Watson that defeated the champions of a major televised quiz show, showing its ability to match humans in answering a wide range of free text questions.</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><B><SPAN lang=EN-AU>For more information, contact Ms. Phyllis Nyambura, Communications, The Kenya ICT Board. Tel: 0700 396 433. Email: </SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-AU><B><U><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><A href="mailto:pnyambura@ict.go.ke" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:pnyambura@ict.go.ke">pnyambura@ict.go.ke</A></SPAN></U></B></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU></SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline" class=yiv260219887MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-AU><B><U><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><BR></SPAN></U></B></SPAN></div>Paul Kukubo<BR>Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board<BR>PO Box 27150 - 00100<BR>Nairobi, Kenya<BR><BR>12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street<BR><BR>Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 <BR>Fax: +254 20 2211962<BR>website: <A href="http://www.ict.go.ke/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.ict.go.ke/</A><BR>local content project: <A href="http://www.tandaa.co.ke/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.tandaa.co.ke/</A>, <A href="http://www.facebook.com/tandaakenya" rel=nofollow target=_blank>www.facebook.com/tandaakenya</A><BR>twitter:@tandaaKENYA<BR>BPO Project: www. <A href="http://doitinkenya.co.ke/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>doitinkenya.co.ke</A><BR>Digital Villages Project: <A href="http://www.pasha.co.ke/" rel=nofollow
target=_blank>http://www.pasha.co.ke/</A><BR><BR><BR>personal contacts<BR>_______________<BR><BR>Cell: + 254 717 180001<BR><BR><BR>skype: kukubopaul<BR>googletalk: pkukubo<BR>personal blog: <A href="http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke/</A><BR>personal twitter: @pkukubo<BR><BR><BR>____________________<BR>Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub<BR><BR>Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment <BR></DIV><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>kictanet mailing list<BR><A href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" ymailto="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</A><BR><A href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target=_blank>https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</A><BR><BR>Unsubscribe or
change your options at <A href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngethe.kariuki2007%40yahoo.co.uk" target=_blank>https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngethe.kariuki2007%40yahoo.co.uk</A><BR><BR>The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<BR><BR>KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<BR><BR></DIV></DIV></div></body></html>