Other initiatives are planned in the country, including the creation by 2027 of the first university specializing in artificial intelligence, intended to strengthen local skills and position Ethiopia as a leading African hub in this sector.

Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence University Innovation Pod (AI UniPod) in Addis Ababa on Monday, February 16, a national innovation center designed to strengthen national capacities in artificial intelligence and accelerate the development of local technological solutions.

“Ethiopia will not stand on the sidelines of the artificial intelligence revolution. We will help shape it. The launch of the AI ​​UniPod, powered by the Timbuktoo Initiative, is not simply the opening of a space. It marks the opening of a new chapter – one in which Ethiopia does not progress as a spectator in the age of artificial intelligence, but as a builder, contributor, and leader ,” said Temesgen Tiruneh.

Ethiopia will not stand on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence revolution. We will help shape it.

Today, together with the Ethiopia Artificial Intelligence Institute, Addis Ababa University, and UNDP through the Timbuktoo Initiative, we launched the AI UniPod—an… pic.twitter.com/paSgSQFH2S

— Temesgen Tiruneh – ተመስገን ጥሩነህ 🇪🇹 (@TemesgenTiru) February 16, 2026

The initiative is jointly led by the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Addis Ababa University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within the framework of the Timbuktoo UniPod network. Located at the Institute’s headquarters, the center brings together high-performance computing infrastructure, robotics laboratories, design studios, and collaborative spaces for researchers, students, and technology startups.

Through this initiative, the authorities intend to structure a local artificial intelligence value chain, from skills training to the industrialization of digital solutions tailored to national needs. The project primarily targets applications in agriculture, health, and education—sectors considered strategic for the country’s socio-economic transformation.

The launch of the AI ​​UniPod supports the “Digital Ethiopia 2030” strategy, which places digital technology at the heart of economic transformation and guides the implementation of the national artificial intelligence policy. The goal is to position Ethiopia among Africa’s leading AI hubs by 2030.

Beyond technological infrastructure, the country is focusing on developing human capital as a pillar of its technological sovereignty. In this context, the government plans to create the country’s first university specializing in artificial intelligence, in order to train the essential local skills needed in a context where their scarcity is a major obstacle to the adoption of these technologies in Africa.

This trend reflects the growing power of artificial intelligence as a driver of economic transformation in emerging economies. According to a PwC study, AI could contribute up to $1.2 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030, representing a 5.6% increase in the continent’s wealth. AI technologies are thus seen as a lever for improving productivity, modernizing public services, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

Within this context, Ethiopia seeks to reduce its dependence on imported technologies and strengthen its control over its data, which the authorities consider a strategic asset comparable to natural resources. The UniPod AI project is intended to serve as a national platform for technological development while contributing to the emergence of a regional innovation ecosystem.

Source: Agence Ecofin