{"id":53668,"date":"2025-04-01T21:40:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T21:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/cmu-africa-unveils-digital-experience-center-set-to-transform-africa-s-tech\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T13:03:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:03:23","slug":"cmu-africa-unveils-digital-experience-center-set-to-transform-africa-s-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/cmu-africa-unveils-digital-experience-center-set-to-transform-africa-s-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"CMU-Africa unveils digital experience center, set to transform Africa\u2019s tech landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The center is designed to equip students with deep technical expertise, enabling them to develop locally relevant software that also meets global standards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo rather than Africa being just consumers, we now are creators and contribute to the global ecosystem of open-source products and open-source software,\u201d said Conrad Tucker, Director of CMU Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond fostering innovation, the center also aims to enhance Africa\u2019s technological autonomy, allowing governments to develop and maintain their own software rather than relying on external providers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor ample, if the government of Rwanda has a software that is developed and implemented domestically. If that software needs to be updated or replaced, rather than always going externally, we have locally homegrown technical talent that can either develop the software, maintain it, and even export it so that this can also be a new source of revenue for our countries.\u201d Tucker explained.<\/p>\n<p>The establishment of the digital public infrastructure labs, has been made possible through a multi-year partnership with the Gates Foundation. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84663 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_9-28.jpg\" alt=\"Conrad Tucker (R), Director of CMU Africa, alongside other officials unveiled the digital experience center.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>{{A hub for African digital innovation}}<\/p>\n<p>This center is a key initiative supporting Africa\u2019s digital transformation, according to Assane Gueye, Co-Director of the Upanzi Network and an associate teaching professor at CMU Africa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfrica is going digital, there are technologies that we need to support that. Often people want to see technology in action, go to India, Europe, or China and this is an opportunity for us as African countries to step up,\u201d Gueye pointed out.<\/p>\n<p>A major objective of the center is to provide a space where African leaders can explore emerging technologies firsthand. \u201cThe people working on these solutions are the sons and daughters of Africa. They know the challenges, they build the solutions, and the digital experience center is a place where we showcase them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the innovations already underway is a digital ID system, which will allow governments to transition from physical ID cards to secure digital identities. \u201cWe create a digital ID for the citizen and give them access to services that the government is offering, showcasing how digital ID can help in the country,\u201d Gueye explained.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84669 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_6-64.jpg\" alt=\"Assane Gueye (C), Co-Director of the Upanzi Network explains how this center is a key initiative supporting Africa\u2019s digital transformation.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>One of the most promising projects showcased at the center is a Malaria Diagnosis App, co-developed by Eric Maniraguha, a research associate and geospatial analyst at CMU Africa. The app leverages machine learning to streamline malaria diagnosis, reducing the time and effort required for manual testing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are trying to digitalize the malaria diagnosis process. We are working on this by collecting data from health centers, validating it with RBC, and using machine learning to identify and classify malaria parasites,\u201d Maniraguha explained.<\/p>\n<p>While still undergoing optimization, the app is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. \u201cThis will reduce the time required for diagnosis and also automate the process,\u201d he noted. <\/p>\n<p>Another major focus of the center is bridging the digital divide, particularly in rural areas. Unlike traditional research institutions, the digital experience center prioritizes real-world problem-solving. <\/p>\n<p>It is expected set to become a regional hub for digital innovation, allowing policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to explore, test, and implement new technologies.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84671 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_8-37.jpg\" alt=\"The center is designed to equip students with deep technical expertise, enabling them to develop locally relevant software that also meets global standards.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84670 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_7-48.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84668 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_5-85.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84667 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_4-109.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84666 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_3-151.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84665 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_2-189.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84664 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_1-267.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84662 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic-104.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Africa has officially unveiled Upanzi network, a digital experience center, aimed at strengthening digital public goods and digital public infrastructure across the continent. <\/p>\n<p>This is an Africa-based network of engineering research labs that is working towards a secure, resilient digital transformation on the continent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000084672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-53668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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