IBM research plan noble

• The areas target for research by IBM such as smarter cities, human capacity development and an electronic governance system are vital for any country to prosper in a competitive global environment.
• The government must work to ensure IBM is granted an enabling environment to perform its work by honouring its commitment to shoulder utility bills and paying local researchers.
• IBM has been credited for many innovations in ICT and such talent should be exploited at any cost.

The move by the government and US computer services giant IBM to form a joint research laboratory is laudable and could save the country fortunes by developing technology to improve the delivery of public services.

Like in other countries transiting towards mid-level economies, Kenya requires a vibrant information, communication and technology platform to tackle challenges such as food security and inefficiencies in public procurement systems that hamper overall economic growth.

We have already seen the gains of ICT-based innovations in key fronts such as mobile-phone-based cash transfers and mobile banking and more could be achieved through deeper research.

The areas target for research by IBM such as smarter cities, human capacity development and an electronic governance system are vital for any country to prosper in a competitive global environment.

The partnership with IBM should therefore be exploited to its fullest. The firm has an impressive track record in the breath of business worldwide, having provided network support for telecoms firms and banks and Kenya would certainly gain from its expertise.

IBM has been credited for many innovations in ICT and such talent should be exploited at any cost.

More encouraging is the fact that intellectual property in form of innovation from the facility will be shared between Kenya and IBM.

This guarantees transfer of knowledge to us as a country and provide employment.

The government must work to ensure IBM is granted an enabling environment to perform its work by honouring its commitment to shoulder utility bills and paying local researchers.