the AI Hub seeks to align global resources with African innovation to power inclusive digital transformation. Photo Minister of enterprise
The G7-endorsed AI Hub for Sustainable Development has officially launched at the UNDP Italy premises in Rome, marking a significant step in reimagining global artificial intelligence collaboration with Africa.
Backed by Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, the AI Hub seeks to align global resources with African innovation to power inclusive digital transformation.
Over 500 participants from more than 60 countries, with hundreds more joining online, witnessed the unveiling of 25 transformative partnerships.
These span public and private sectors across Africa, Italy, the EU, and G7 countries. Leading collaborators include the governments of Egypt, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and the African Development Bank.
“This initiative is a fundamental piece of a broader mosaic represented by the Mattei Plan,” said Senator Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy.
“A partnership of equals, as envisioned and pursued by Enrico Mattei, born from the clear vision of our Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and now involving the EU and Africa in a shared effort toward the continent’s economic, social, and environmental growth.”
The AI Hub sits at the heart of that vision. Based in Rome, it is designed as a collaborative platform to foster accessible, affordable, and sustainable AI development across Africa. It promises not just technology transfer, but a fundamental shift, centering African innovators in shaping the global AI agenda.
“Innovation thrives through connection, not isolation,” said Kenyan start-up leader and event moderator Tonee Ndungu.
“The AI Hub will create vibrant spaces where diverse perspectives will spark scalable solutions, empowering African innovators to build infrastructure on the continent and lead in shaping an AI future where everyone prospers.”
A central theme emerged throughout the launch: outdated models are ill-equipped to meet Africa’s AI needs.
Instead, new partnerships must invest in foundational infrastructure—data, compute capacity, and talent—to enable locally driven AI solutions for global markets.
Concrete Action and Key Initiatives
The launch unveiled a suite of strategic programs aimed at strengthening Africa’s AI ecosystem:
- AI Hub Platform with AskHub Chatbot: A digital platform that connects African innovators to global compute resources, expert mentorship, and partnerships. It includes a tailored chatbot supporting every stage of innovation—from ideation to scaling. Key partners include Zindi, AfriLabs, and OpenStartup International.
- Africa Green Compute Coalition (AGCC) Report: This flagship publication reframes Africa’s estimated $30 billion compute investment gap as an opportunity for sustainable growth. Co-led with Alliance4AI, AXUM, Cineca, and Kytabu, the report outlines a roadmap for building equitable AI infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
- Compute Accelerator Programme: A six-month initiative offering cloud credits, technical mentorship, and cross-border connections to help AI startups scale globally. Among the ten confirmed partners are Almawave, Amazon Web Services, Cineca, Elis, and Kytabu.
- AI Infrastructure Builder Programme: Designed to localize AI infrastructure development, this initiative promotes smart, scalable systems to enhance both accessibility and economic impact. Anchor partners include the governments of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, the African Development Bank, Axum, CDP, Confindustria, and EgyptSAND.
Further expanding the Hub’s scope, Microsoft and multilingual LLM innovator Domyn announced a collaboration to support sovereign AI development in Africa.
Their joint effort will integrate secure, accessible AI-powered tools within the AI Hub’s platform, helping innovators connect to funding and expert guidance.
Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, stressed that the Hub represents more than training or technology transfer.
“Rather than transferring technology or providing training on existing tools, the AI Hub is strengthening the essential foundations of AI development—data, compute, talent, and partnerships—to enable African innovators to create solutions that serve both local development priorities and global markets,” he said.
Mattei Plan and Global Backing
Coinciding with the launch, the ‘Mattei Plan for Africa and Global Gateway’ summit was held at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced two major partnerships supporting the AI Hub.
A new Administrative Arrangement with the European Commission and a strategic MIMIT-Microsoft agreement commit substantial resources toward expanding inclusive AI growth in Africa.
These agreements further position the AI Hub as a pivotal mechanism in the Mattei Plan’s broader agenda for African development.
The hub also draws upon Italy’s existing partnerships with 14 African countries under the Mattei Plan framework: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia.
“The G7 Leaders’ endorsement of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, in Borgo Egnazia in 2024, demonstrated international recognition, particularly that responsible AI development is fundamental to global stability and shared prosperity,” Neto added.
Next Steps: Bridging Gaps, Scaling Opportunity
While the AI Hub’s ambitions are global, its priorities remain rooted in African realities.
The emphasis is on enabling localized infrastructure and solutions that can scale both regionally and globally.
From computer access to talent development, the focus remains on practical enablers of innovation.
By connecting African innovators with G7 and EU companies, development institutions, and cutting-edge digital tools, the AI Hub aims to become the cornerstone of Africa’s AI infrastructure journey.
It stands not just as a symbolic commitment, but as a structural one, tailored for impact, built for scale, and led in partnership.
As Senator Urso noted, “We will work together tirelessly to ensure that the AI Hub develops swiftly and efficiently, in the firm belief that this can represent a truly great opportunity for development for the region and our Europe.”
