27 January 2026: The Biotechnet II project to strengthen Biotechnology capacity in the Horn of Africa and in East Africa is launched: a project supported by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS).
In Addis Ababa today, the State Minister for Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, Dr. Bayisa Bedada, the Head of AICS, Addis Ababa Office, Dr. Michele Morana, and representatives of the four partner countries, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda, were present at the launch of Biotechnet II. Attendees included H.E. Sem Fabrizi, Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, ICGEB Chief, External Relations, Ms. Marianna Maculan, and a team from HQ Technology Transfer, Cooperation and Innovation Office.
BIOTECHNET II marks the second phase of the BIOTECHNET project, originally launched in 2021 and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The initiative aims to strengthen and capitalise biotechnology expertise among researchers and research institutions in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda, with a focus on Life Sciences.
Through a combination of research funding and capacity-building activities – including research grants, scientific meetings, courses, and fellowship programmes – BIOTECHNET II will support the development of sustainable scientific capacity in the region. With a total budget of over EUR 3.7 million, the project will run for three years, from 2026 to 2029.
“Funding for this second phase of the BIOTECHNET project is based on the strong results and significant impact achieved during Phase I,” said Dr. Lawrence Banks, Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). “Between 2021 and 2025, more than 20 PhD and postdoctoral researchers were supported through fellowships; over 10 scientific workshops and training courses were organised across the participating countries, and more than 10 national laboratories were established or upgraded.”
Representing AICS, [name/title] highlighted the broader impact of BIOTECHNET, noting that “The project has contributed to strengthening research skills, improving national and regional scientific capacity, and supporting career development. It has also enhanced scientific collaboration among participating countries and reinforced national capacities to address key challenges, including disease outbreaks and climate monitoring.”
Under BIOTECHNET II, support will be provided to establish or upgrade laboratories and research lines in eligible countries, particularly in health, sustainable agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and renewable energy. This will be implemented through the ICGEB CRP Research Grants Programme.
The project will also promote the organisation of scientific events in the four countries, facilitate participation of regional researchers in ICGEB international scientific meetings, and expand training opportunities through ICGEB PhD Fellowships (long- and short-term), Short-term Advanced Fellowships, and Mobility Fellowships.
Special emphasis will be placed on the participation of women scientists and on enhancing regional capacity for genomic surveillance and pathogen discovery across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, strengthening regional preparedness and scientific cooperation.
Testimonial: Gloria Grace Akarut from Kampala joined ICGEB in 2024, where she is now working on pandemic preparedness and acquiring cutting-edge skills in Biotechnology in the laboratory and beyond. She tells how she was able to join, although Uganda is not yet a Member State of the Organisation. Her trailblazing tale helped pave the way for the BIOTECHNET II project for researchers in East Africa to obtain fellowships, and other support from the ICGEB.
Earlier last week, on 22 January 2026, Elena Benedetti and Claire Poletto, ICGEB Technology Transfer, Cooperation and Innovation Office, HQ, were at the Italian Embassy to meet with H.E. Ambassador of Italy, Vincenzo Del Monaco, Prof. Fabio Santoni, Scientific Attaché, and Giuseppe Manenti, Manager of the ITA – Italian Trade Agency office in Nairobi, Kenya.
While in Nairobi, they met with Margaret Karembu, Director, and Godfrey Ngure, Science Communication Expert at the ISAAA AfriCenter, to discuss actions under the joint MoU.
