AGP Executive Report

Health AI: A medical AI project presented preliminary results at a Kigali conference, with 780 patients and nearly 6,000 images collected across five African countries to help train tools for diagnosing skin diseases. Digital Services: Rwanda’s Irembo held talks with South Korea’s GOV24 team and Samsung SDS on digital public services and technology cooperation. Responsible AI: INES-Ruhengeri opened its academic year with a call for students to use AI while protecting sound judgement, ethics and learning. Clean Energy: Rwanda is seeking bids for a 200-megawatt floating solar plant and an 800-megawatt-hour battery storage project. Digital Identity: Rwanda, Benin and Ghana have completed the first phase of a cross-border digital ID pilot. Research: Rwandan and Chinese academics have called for stronger collaboration to tackle environmental challenges.

AI for Health: SkincAIr presented early results in Kigali for an AI tool to help dermatologists detect neglected skin diseases. Teams across five African countries have collected 780 patients’ data and nearly 6,000 images. Digital Services: Rwanda’s Irembo met South Korean government and technology teams to exchange ideas on digital public services and explore future collaboration. AI in Education: A study involving Rwanda and four other African countries found uneven access to AI training and gaps in university readiness. INES-Ruhengeri also urged students to use AI responsibly, with care for ethics and independent judgement. Clean Energy: Rwanda is seeking developers for a 200-megawatt floating solar project and an 800-megawatt-hour battery storage system. Digital Identity: Rwanda, Ghana and Benin have completed the first phase of a cross-border digital ID pilot, a step toward smoother regional identity services.

Digital Government: Rwanda’s Irembo met South Korean public-service and technology institutions, including GOV24 and Samsung SDS, to exchange expertise and explore future collaboration on digital transformation. AI in Education: INES-Ruhengeri urged students to use AI responsibly, while a five-country study that included Rwanda found uneven access to AI learning and gaps in university readiness, lecturer training and curricula. Research Capacity: African university leaders meeting in Kigali called for stronger collaboration and local funding, highlighting biomanufacturing as a way to address health-system gaps and build expertise in areas such as vaccines. Cybersecurity: Rwanda joined 20 other countries in Interpol’s Operation Serengeti III, which reported 1,462 arrests, more than $105 million recovered and 10,909 malicious networks disrupted.

Digital Services: Irembo met South Korean government and technology institutions to share lessons on online public services and explore future collaboration. Digital Identity: Rwanda, Ghana and Benin completed the first phase of a cross-border digital ID pilot, a step toward smoother regional services. Research: African university leaders meeting in Kigali called for more local research funding and collaboration, especially in biomanufacturing, vaccines and health technology. A separate study involving Rwandan participants found uneven AI readiness at African universities, including gaps in training, resources and institutional policies. Clean Energy: Rwanda is seeking developers for a 200-megawatt floating solar project paired with 800 megawatt-hours of battery storage. Cybersecurity: Rwanda joined an Interpol-led African operation that arrested 1,462 suspects and dismantled more than 10,900 malicious networks. Electric Mobility: Ride-hailing growth and government incentives are helping build demand for electric motorcycles and three-wheelers across East Africa, including Rwanda.

AI Readiness: A study involving Rwanda found African universities face uneven access to AI learning, limited lecturer training and gaps in institutional preparedness, warning that adoption without wider reforms could deepen inequality. Research and Skills: The University of Rwanda graduated 4,953 students, including a record 49 PhDs; 1,215 graduates came from its College of Science and Technology. Clean Energy: Rwanda has opened a tender for a 200 MW floating solar plant and 800 MWh battery system at Lake Sake, with bids due November 12. Digital Government: Benin, Ghana and Rwanda completed the first phase of a cross-border digital ID pilot, while a Liberian delegation visited Rwanda to study how digital tools support tax collection and public services.

Clean Energy: Rwanda has opened a tender for a 200 MW floating solar plant and 800 MWh battery storage system at Lake Sake. The selected developer will build and operate the project, with bids due November 12. Science Talent: The University of Rwanda graduated 4,953 students at its ceremony in Kayonza, including a record 49 PhDs; 1,215 graduates came from the College of Science and Technology. Cybersecurity: Rwanda joined 20 African countries and the United States in INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti III, which reported 1,462 arrests, 10,909 disrupted malicious networks and more than $105 million recovered. Research Partnerships: Scientists and officials meeting in Kigali called for stronger research collaboration and investment in homegrown science to address challenges in water, ecosystems, energy and climate resilience. Digital Government: A Liberian tax delegation visited Rwanda to learn how digital systems and interagency cooperation can improve revenue collection and public services.

Digital Tax Cooperation: Liberia is looking to Rwanda for lessons in using technology to improve tax collection and public services. Officials from both revenue authorities discussed digital transformation and decentralized tax administration in Kigali. Cybersecurity: INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti III involved Rwanda and 20 other African countries plus the United States. The crackdown led to 1,462 arrests, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered more than $105 million; investigators identified nearly 66,000 targeted victims. Digital Identity: Rwanda, Benin and Ghana completed the first phase of a pilot linking national ID systems for cross-border verification. Tests used synthetic data, with no central identity database. Research: Rwanda-based academics and officials called for stronger research partnerships and investment in homegrown science to address environmental challenges, including water management, renewable energy and climate resilience. Clean Energy: Rwanda has invited bids for a 200-megawatt floating solar plant and 800-megawatt-hour battery system at Lake Sake, with initial bids due November 12. AI in Education: An AI-supported English training programme has reached 90,000 Rwandan teachers, with plans to extend it to 150,000.

Research and Climate: Academics and officials in Kigali called for stronger Rwanda-China research partnerships and more investment in homegrown science to tackle water, energy and environmental challenges. Digital Identity: Rwanda, Benin and Ghana completed the first phase of a pilot linking national ID systems for cross-border verification, using a shared platform that keeps data under each country’s control. Cybersecurity: Rwanda joined 20 African countries and the US in an INTERPOL operation that arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered more than $105 million. AI Partnerships: Rwanda’s ICT minister invited South Korean firms to test AI services in the country, with potential uses in healthcare, agriculture, education and finance. Renewable Energy: Rwanda is seeking developers for a 200 MW floating solar plant and 800 MWh battery storage project at Lake Sake.

AI Partnerships: Rwanda and South Korea are exploring cooperation on AI, digital infrastructure and smart cities, with Rwanda’s ICT minister urging Korean firms to use the country as a launchpad for African expansion. Health, agriculture, education and finance are among the potential AI applications. Shared Computing: Nigeria has called on Rwanda, Kenya and Senegal to pool AI computing capacity, helping countries develop and run systems that may be too costly to build alone. Research & Data: UMST-Rwanda signed a deal to boost research and academic exchange, while UN and African officials urged stronger investment in data systems to guide public decisions and development. Green Innovation: Rwanda is among African countries building e-waste recycling capacity, turning discarded electronics into a potential source of industrial materials.

Digital Cooperation: Rwanda and South Korea are exploring partnerships in AI, digital infrastructure and smart-city solutions. Research Links: UMST-Rwanda has signed a deal to strengthen research and academic exchange. AI for Climate: A Kigali summer school is training African scientists to apply AI to weather forecasting and climate services, including early-warning systems. Agritech: Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics has helped Rwanda’s Rubona lab triple annual cassava plantlet production to as many as 300,000, supporting access to disease-free planting material. Startup Support: Rwanda’s technology ambitions include Kigali Innovation City, planned to bring tech firms, research institutions and education together; access to funding remains a challenge for startups.

Agritech: Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics is helping Rwanda produce cleaner cassava planting materials: the Rubona lab’s annual capacity has risen from about 100,000 plantlets to as many as 300,000, supporting farmers’ access to healthier seed. AI and Climate: Kigali is hosting an African summer school on AI for weather and climate modelling, bringing scientists together to develop better forecasts and early-warning services. Digital Finance: Mobile payments reached 3.1 billion transactions in 2025, but phone-based scams remain a risk for consumers even as reported fraud complaints fell about 30% year on year in the second quarter of 2026. Innovation: Rwanda climbed eight places to 96th in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, a notable gain as the country seeks to turn investment in research, education and business into wider economic benefits.

AI and Climate: Kigali is hosting a five-day African summer school on using AI to improve weather forecasts and climate warnings, bringing together scientists and meteorologists from across the continent. Digital Payments: Rwanda’s digital transactions surged to 3.1 billion in 2025, but phone-based scams remain a risk; reported financial-fraud complaints fell about 30% year over year in the second quarter of 2026. Clean Energy: Rwanda is seeking investors for a 200-megawatt floating solar plant on Lake Sake, paired with batteries to supply power after sunset. Innovation: Rwanda climbed eight places to 96th in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, which tracks how countries turn ideas and research into economic value. Digital Heritage: Liquid Intelligent Technologies is contributing Rwf130 million toward digitising genocide memorials, supporting efforts to preserve and share historical records.

Renewable Energy: Rwanda is seeking investors for a 200MW floating solar plant on Lake Sake, paired with batteries that can supply power for four hours. The selected developer would build and operate the facility under a 25-year agreement. AI and Disinformation: An investigation uncovered about 70 AI-powered fake news sites that published at least 318 stories about conflict in eastern DRC, Rwanda and mineral disputes, raising concerns about automated influence campaigns in the region. Digital Payments: A Bank of Ghana pilot is testing cross-border payments between Ghana and Rwanda using digital currencies, stablecoins, bank accounts and mobile wallets, with the goal of moving money without relying on banks outside Africa. Off-Grid Solar: Kigali will host a global solar forum and expo on October 27–29, bringing investors, policymakers and companies together to discuss expanding clean-energy access.

Digital Payments: The Bank of Ghana is testing cross-border payments on the Ghana–Rwanda corridor using digital currencies, stablecoins, bank accounts and mobile wallets, with the aim of moving money without relying on overseas correspondent banks. Health Research: Kenya’s Ebola response is using monoclonal antibodies sourced from Rwanda; seven patients had received treatment by October 19, as confirmed cases rose to eight. Clean Energy: Kigali will host the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo on October 27–29, bringing investors and policymakers together to explore solar, mini-grids, clean cooking and electric mobility. Local Innovation: Rwanda’s Entelon is building AI tools for organisations still reliant on paper, while a new patent initiative lets inventors file ideas for as little as Rwf 10,000.

Digital Payments: Ghana is testing cross-border payments with Rwanda and Nigeria using central-bank digital currencies, stablecoins, bank accounts and mobile wallets, aiming to move beyond pilots using existing African payment infrastructure. Clean Energy: Kigali will host the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo from 27 to 29 October, bringing more than 1,000 sector leaders together to discuss financing and ways to extend electricity access. AI and Urban Tech: Rwanda’s Entelon is building AI tools for organisations still relying on paper, while Rwanda and Singapore are exploring technology solutions for urban development. Greener Kigali: An assessment estimates the city’s nature-based projects could return more than $2 in benefits for every $1 invested over 25 years, including through safer infrastructure and improved public health. Innovation and Climate: Rwanda and Singapore are exchanging expertise to streamline carbon-credit project approvals; Rwanda’s patent fees have also been lowered, with filings available from Rwf 10,000.

F1 Engineering: Rwanda’s planned African Grand Prix circuit is taking shape: its 17 corners and 197 metres of elevation change could make the RISE Motordrome a standout track when racing arrives in the early 2030s. Climate Technology: Rwanda and Singapore are working to streamline carbon-credit approvals under their bilateral agreement, while a Kigali assessment estimates nature-based projects could deliver US$2.09 in benefits per dollar invested over 25 years. Local Innovation: Rwanda’s patent fees can start at Rwf10,000, lowering the cost of protecting ideas. Local AI and urban technology efforts are also gaining attention, including Entelon’s tools for organisations still reliant on paper and discussions with Singapore’s ST Engineering.