from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopia Bureau
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – A LANDMARK partnership has been announced to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in Ethiopia.
Wingu, East Africa’s first specialist carrier-neutral data centre operator, is collaborating with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII), in the strategic partnership.
It is aimed at building a vibrant, sustainable AI startup ecosystem in Ethiopia and is seen as representing a milestone in an ongoing commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation and supporting the continent’s next generation of tech innovators.
Wingu and EAII are to work together to identify and support high-potential AI startups in Ethiopia, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and alignment with national development priorities.
Startups will gain access to Wingu’s Tier III-certified data centre in the capital Addis Ababa, which offer secure, high-performance infrastructure to run compute-intensive workloads, store data safely and scale confidently.
The deal is aimed at unlocking local potential, investing in emerging technologies and strengthening Ethiopia’s position as a regional leader in AI.
By combining EAII’s AI research expertise and startup outreach with Wingu’s data centre infrastructure, the initiative is anticipated to provide critical support for early-stage AI startups working on high-impact, future-ready solutions.
“Africa’s AI future is being built today,” said Demos Kyriacou, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Wingu Africa.
“It starts by empowering local innovators with the tools, infrastructure and mentorship they need to succeed. This partnership reflects our commitment to helping Ethiopia’s digital economy reach new heights, while creating real, scalable impact,” Kyriacou said.
EAII, established under Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers, is tasked with leading the national development of AI locally.
Ethiopia is East Africa’s largest regional economy.
– CAJ News