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Grounding The Dream Of African Innovation Hubs: Two Cases In Kigali

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  • NICOLAS FRIEDERICI

    (Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Französische Straße 9, 10117 Berlin, Germany2Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, 1 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3JS, United Kingdom)

Abstract

Innovation hub organizations have become a fixture in African cities. Proponents of hubs commonly envision them to function as network infrastructures. Specifically, hubs are conceived of as network intermediaries within entrepreneurial ecosystems, allowing for seamless collaboration between diverse actors. This paper grounds such visions and conceptualizations, presenting case studies of two hubs in Rwanda: kLab and The Office. It draws on interviews with 47 participants with a stake in technology entrepreneurship in Kigali, about half of them founders or CEOs of small technology startups. Ultimately, the case studies show that implementation realities of hubs are far removed from aspirational visions. Notably, the paper finds that facets of community (such as boundaries and cultures) need to be continually negotiated between hub leaders and entrepreneurs, resulting in tensions and tradeoffs.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Friederici, 2018. "Grounding The Dream Of African Innovation Hubs: Two Cases In Kigali," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(02), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:23:y:2018:i:02:n:s1084946718500127
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946718500127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Atiase, Victor Yawo & Kolade, Oluwaseun & Liedong, Tahiru Azaaviele, 2020. "The emergence and strategy of tech hubs in Africa: Implications for knowledge production and value creation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    2. Daniel Schmitt & Chisenga Muyoya, 2020. "Influence in Technological Innovation Spaces: A Network Science Approach to Understand Innovation for Sustainability in the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Liza Rose Cirolia & Rike Sitas & Andrea Pollio & Alexis Gatoni Sebarenzi & Prince K Guma, 2023. "Silicon Savannahs and motorcycle taxis: A Southern perspective on the frontiers of platform urbanism," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 55(8), pages 1989-2008, November.
    4. Primo, Marcos André Mendes & Paiva, Ely Laureano, 2024. "Tech hub entrepreneurial training to low-income communities: Evidence from Brazil," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

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