7th
Country in Africa (99th globally); Global Innovation Index (2018)
$2 billion
Kigali Innovation City project
7
World-class universities join Kigali Innovation City
About the Directorate
The Innovation and Emerging Technologies Directorate General’s mandate is to steer Rwanda’s transformation into an innovation and knowledge-based economy by fostering research, development, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies. The directorate leads the design and coordination of national programs that strengthen the innovation ecosystem, promote startup growth, and accelerate the deployment of frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Internet of Things, and Digital Public Infrastructure.
Through strategic partnerships with government institutions, development partners, academia, and the private sector, the department ensures that innovation and technology serve as key enablers of inclusive socio-economic development and sustainable digital transformation.
The directorate spearheads Rwanda’s efforts to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable innovation ecosystem by focusing on three key pillars:
- Startup Ecosystem: supporting startups, ESOs and coordinating ecosystem initiatives.
- Digital Financial services: supporting and leading policies and programs that support the promotion of digital financial services and the fintech ecosystem at large.
- Emerging technologies: supporting catalytic initiatives to drive the adoption of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Internet of Things, drones, among others.
Director General
Esther Kunda
Director General, Innovation & Emerging Technologies
Ms. Kunda is a technology and innovation policy professional with extensive experience in innovation ecosystem development, emerging technologies, and science engagement across Africa. Before joining the Ministry, she served as Policy, Innovation, and Community of Scientists (CoS) Manager at the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), where she coordinated policy foresight initiatives, produced strategic policy roadmaps for African countries, and managed the activities of the NEF Community of Scientists, advancing research collaboration and public engagement in science and technology. She also served as Programs and Operations Coordinator, supporting organisational growth and partnership management.
Prior to NEF, Kunda worked with Intel Corporation as Education Support Manager and with Tigo Rwanda in product development, gaining broad experience in business strategy, technology innovation, and digital product management. She holds a Master of Science in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University Africa and a BSc in Computer Engineering from the University of Rwanda College of Science and Technology (formerly the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology-KIST).
To get in touch with the department - email: innovation@minict.gov.rw
Affiliated Agencies
MINICT has a vision to foster ICT development and diffusion in the Rwandan Society and Economy. To achieve its mission, the Ministry works closely with the following affiliated agencies in the implementation of its policies and programs.
