KENYA – National carrier Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) has launched the Fahari Innovation Hub, a center for innovation that acts as a springboard for new ideas and data-driven innovations to accelerate impact-driven solutions that address some of the societal and business challenges.
The Fahari Innovation Hub is part of the airline’s s strategy in contributing to the sustainable development of Africa by empowering, partnering, and co-creating innovative ideas and strategies with local start-ups and the small-medium enterprises (SMEs) ecosystem.
Speaking during the launch Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Joseph Mucheru said there is a need to invent new ways for the future and especially for the Youth to be able to respond as flexibly as possible to changing times and diverse opportunities.
“We commend Kenya Airways for partnering with National Youth Council and GE and leveraging and harnessing Youth potential to design the Fahari Innovation Hub in fast-tracking the country’s mission to use new, digital & environmentally friendly business models beyond flying to shape our tomorrow,” he said.
“Through the hub, we hope to see the provision of upskilling, employment opportunities, community growth as well as support to local universities, enterprises and SMEs as we contribute to the sustainable development of Africa. We have become increasingly aware of the need to be innovative,” Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer, Allan Kilavuka said.
“At the pace at which change accelerates, especially now in the middle of a global pandemic, as we position the business as a resilient, forward-looking and sustainable company with a deliberate inclusive agenda of empowering, partnering and co-creating with the society around us,” he emphasized.”
“Through the hub, we hope to see the provision of upskilling, employment opportunities, community growth as well as support to local universities, enterprises and SMEs as we contribute to the sustainable development of Africa”
Allan Kilavuka – CEO, Kenya Airways
The CEO added that it is an enabling environment that will accelerate innovative ideas, knowledge exchange and impact business operations brought together various think-tanks, industry leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs exemplifies our spirit to charge forward as they seek to innovatively find solutions that address some of our business problems and pain points.
The Fahari Innovation Hub has operated virtually for about one year and with the setting of a physical workspace, the hub will provide a center for strategic innovation management offering opportunities for co-creation, collaboration, networking, research, and learning.
A few days ago, the Fahari Innovation Hub curated a virtual workshop for entrepreneurs dubbed the ‘KQ Aviation 101 Workshop’ where the Fahari Innovation Challenge was launched.
The workshop served to apprise start-ups and SMEs on the opportunities available to access markets within the entire value chain of the aviation sector which includes airports, the food industry, tourism, and digitization including Boeing Horizon X, IATA, Kenya Tourism Board, NAS Airport Services, General Electric, Hivos East Africa, and Funkidz Limited.
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