The 13th Academia–Public–Private Partnership Forum (APPPF) is currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, bringing together researchers, innovators, higher education leaders, industry players, and policymakers for three days, from March 12 to 14, 2025. This platform serves as a vital space for participants to engage, network, co-create, and agree on ways to strengthen academia-industry linkages to address regional development challenges.
Established in 2012 as a collaborative initiative by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in partnership with the East Africa Business Council (EABC) and the East Africa Development Bank (EADB), APPPF has since evolved into a leading forum for advancing academia-industry partnerships in the region. Every two years, IUCEA, in collaboration with diverse partners, organizes the forum to address relevant and pressing themes that align with regional development priorities.
This forum serves as a platform for academia, the public sector, and private sector stakeholders in the region to share experiences and showcase successful collaborative initiatives between universities, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, employers, and policymakers. It also provides an opportunity to address the challenges that hinder effective partnerships between academia and productive sectors.
“As a nation, Rwanda firmly believes that a well-integrated education system—one that is dynamic, inclusive, and responsive to real-world challenges—is key to unlocking shared prosperity. Strong academia-industry partnerships are essential in ensuring that our graduates are not merely job seekers but also job creators and solution providers, driving Africa’s development forward,” said the Chief Guest, Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education, Rwanda.
Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Education, officially launched the Research Excellence Framework for Higher Education in East Africa (REFHE-EA) and the IUCEA University-Industry Collaboration Strategy during the opening ceremony of the Academia-Public-Private Partnership Forum (APPPF) in Kigali, Rwanda. These initiatives mark a significant step toward strengthening research excellence and fostering deeper collaboration between universities and industries across the region.
Additionally, the forum seeks to develop strategies that strengthen and support university-industry partnerships, creating an enabling ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship within East African higher education institutions.
The theme of the 13th APPPF-2025 highlights the crucial and complementary roles of universities and industries in generating knowledge, developing cutting-edge technologies, nurturing talent, producing goods and services, and driving employment and wealth creation. The objective is to maximize the potential of universities in the region by fostering strong collaborations with industry, thereby bridging the gap between knowledge generation and practical application. This approach will help cultivate skilled talent, develop innovative solutions to existing challenges, create new businesses and industries, and contribute to societal advancement.
“The EAC Vision 2050 underscores the urgent need to develop a skilled workforce, drive industrialization, enhance agricultural value chains, and harness technological innovations. By fostering strong collaborations between universities and industries, we can equip our youth with the skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to transform East Africa into a globally competitive region,” said Hon. Veronica Nduva, EAC Secretary General.
The theme will be explored through four key sub-themes: leveraging university research for industry and community transformation, accelerating technology transfer and commercialization of university research, building a pipeline of innovative leaders and entrepreneurial talent, and harnessing artificial intelligence as the new frontier for innovation and industrial transformation.
“The APPPF plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable development in the region. Through strategic collaborations, we can transform research into impactful solutions, enhance skills development, and build a competitive knowledge economy for East Africa,” said Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary of IUCEA.
The key insights and outcomes from the forum will be documented and disseminated, providing actionable steps and strategies to strengthen university-industry partnerships and promote a dynamic innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in East Africa.
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Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).
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E-mail: gmanyuon@iucea.org
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