China Mobile launches four-month innovation programme for Kenyan university students
China Mobile International (CMI) has launched a four-month technology innovation programme in Kenya to help university students develop commercially viable solutions through industry mentorship, practical training, and partnerships with technology experts.
The programme brings together students from the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), who are expected to build working prototypes that could become market-ready products and businesses.
The programme was launched during the CMI Workshop and Hackathon for the Next Generation of Kenyan Innovators at Radisson Blu, Nairobi Arboretum, and brought in Principal Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy John Kipchumba Tanui, who underscored the significance of strengthening links between universities and industry.
Students will work on projects in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, software engineering, the Internet of Things (IoT), data connectivity and big data analytics.
Additionally, the programme will introduce participants to emerging technologies, including digital twins, blockchain, cybersecurity and fifth-generation (5G) networks.
Each participating team will be assigned a sponsor from CMI to provide technical guidance and industry insights as they develop their solutions. The programme will assess projects based on their functionality, measurable impact and potential to scale beyond the competition.
The best-performing team will receive corporate development support from CMI to help move its solution towards commercial deployment, offering students an opportunity to translate university research and technical skills into practical applications.
Speaking at the launch, Tanui called for strengthening partnership between industry and academia, urging stakeholders to support students in taking their ideas beyond competitions and awards towards pilot projects, business creation and employment opportunities.
He also urged participants to make use of the mentorship and cross-university partnership opportunities to turn their prototypes into viable products and enterprises.
The programme is organized with support from Terry Leung, Regional Managing Director for Africa at China Mobile International, and Dr Lawrence Nderu, founder and project lead of JHUB Africa.
CMI has also prioritised gender-balanced teams as part of efforts to broaden participation in Kenya’s technology sector and encourage more inclusive involvement in innovation.
Furthermore, eligible students from the University of Nairobi and JKUAT have until 2 November 2026 to register for the programme, with final project presentations scheduled for 27 February 2027, when teams will showcase the solutions developed during the initiative.
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