LocationsAUDA-NEPAD Assesses Malawi’s UniPod as a Continental Model for Innovation and Industrialisation
July 4, 2025
Professor Brando Okolo, Advisor on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at AUDA-NEPAD, engages with UniPod staff during his visit to the innovation hub in Blantyre.
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has concluded a strategic visit to the University Innovation Pod (UniPod) in Malawi, as part of its continental efforts to advance science, technology, and innovation (STI) under the 2034 Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034) framework.
The visit aimed to explore partnerships and assess the potential of the UniPod as a key implementation node in Africa’s industrialisation agenda.
Located at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) in Blantyre, the UniPod is an innovation powerhouse supported by UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative. It combines high-tech labs with a design-thinking ethos to support youth-led innovation across various sectors, including AI, robotics, creative industries, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Brando Okolo, AUDA-NEPAD’s STI Advisor, commended the facility’s capabilities and regional relevance:
“My expectations were exceeded. The equipment here, the quality of engineering design, and the downstream manufacturing capacity are unmatched on the continent,” he said.
The AUDA-NEPAD delegation meets with leadership from UNDP, MUBAS, and UniPod to discuss strategic partnerships in advancing science, technology, and innovation in Malawi.
AUDA-NEPAD’s visit focused on assessing the UniPod’s operational capacity, technical strengths, and its potential to become a makerspace model for Africa.
Discussions also explored ways to establish a collaborative ecosystem across innovation hubs in Africa, enhance partnerships with public and private actors, and sustain the UniPod’s operations through service lines and policy support.
“This is not just a facility — it's a unique continental asset. The learnings from Malawi’s UniPod can be transferred to other tech hubs across Africa. AUDA-NEPAD is committed to supporting such innovation ecosystems that directly respond to Africa’s development priorities,” Prof. Okolo added.
The visit culminated in a joint session involving AUDA-NEPAD, UNDP, MUBAS leadership, and UniPod staff, where a roadmap for capacity-building and partnership development was initiated.
The UniPod’s success also reflects the Government of Malawi’s growing interest in STI and its potential to create jobs, drive economic diversification, and strengthen youth-led entrepreneurship.
“UNDP is proud to facilitate partnerships like these to sustain Africa’s innovation ecosystems. The UniPod is a testament to what can happen when global ambition meets local ingenuity,” said Ms. Fenella Frost, UNDP Resident Representative in Malawi.
As the UniPod marks one year since its official launch, this visit sets the stage for deeper regional collaboration and recognition of Malawi’s role in shaping Africa’s STI future.