Microsoft announces new Africa Research Institute to improve productivity in work, health, society

Microsoft Africa Research Institute Kenya Nairobi ADC

Microsoft announces a new Africa Research Institute (MARI) as its latest investment on the continent.

The Microsoft Africa Research Institute according to the company will focus on foundational research to improve productivity in areas such as work, health and society.

The research institute will be co-located in the Microsoft Africa Development Centre site in Nairobi, Kenya.

Microsoft notes that MARI’s mission is to understand how technologies such as cloud and AI help to solve local challenges. As well as how this understanding can be used to influence product creation and unearthing opportunities.

“I am excited to see what we can achieve with this new project, around new ways of work, social development, financial inclusion, and economic growth in Africa, shares MARI director, Jacki O’Neill.
We hope to not only help solve many challenges Africa is facing but address global challenges as well,” she concludes.

MARI will integrate foundational research with product development shares the company. By bringing together researchers, engineers, designers, local academic institutions and the community to build talent and encourage a two-way flow of ideas.

We are seeing some really fantastic momentum in our work at the Microsoft Africa Development Center (ADC). And this new research institute will help us partner to solve local and global challenges, says Jack Ngare, managing director, Microsoft Africa Development Centre in Kenya.

“We are very focused on how innovative cloud technology is driving the future development of the continent. The work this team is seeking to do align closely with our overall goals for the ADC,” he continues.

Microsoft’s recent investments on the continent include the Africa Development center, Datacenters, Policy innovation center and evolved Equity Equivalent Investment Programme.