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ALX, Anthropic, and the Government of Rwanda launch landmark Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning initiative

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Partnership deploys “Chidi,” an AI-powered learning companion, positioning Africa at the centre of global tech innovation

KIGALI, Rwanda, November 18, 2025/APO Group/ –ALX (http://www.ALXAfrica.com/), Anthropic, and the Government of Rwanda have announced a landmark partnership to enhance learning and teaching across Africa through artificial intelligence. The initiative introduces “Chidi” – an AI-powered learning companion built on Anthropic’s Claude model, designed to guide both learners and educators through critical thinking and problem-solving.

“This collaboration marks a bold step in redefining how African talent learns, works, and leads in the age of AI,” says Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of ALX. “Through our partnership with Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda, we are ensuring that Africa’s youth are not just consumers of AI, but creators, shaping the innovations that will define the global economy.”

This partnership represents one of the largest AI-enhanced education deployments on the continent, uniting ALX’s commitment to empowering African talent, Anthropic’s vision for accessible and responsible AI, and Rwanda’s Vision 2050 to build an AI-ready workforce and accelerate digital transformation across Rwanda.

A dual commitment: Empowering both learners and educators

Following the successful Phase 1 rollout of Chidi to ALX learners across Africa, where more than 1,100 conversations and 4,000 chats were recorded within just two days, the next phase of the partnership extends this transformative technology to Rwanda’s public education system in a groundbreaking Phase 2 pilot. Chidi, which acts as a personalised tutor, helps to guide users through questions designed to spark curiosity and critical thinking rather than providing direct answers. For teachers, it becomes a partner in lesson design and student engagement. For learners, it represents access to round-the-clock, world-class guidance that nurtures creativity and confidence.

In this Phase 2 pilot, in addition to exploring Chidi in higher learning institutions, up to 2,000 educators across Rwanda, along with a select group of civil servants, will take part in ALX’s AI Career Essentials program, gaining hands-on experience in using generative AI tools like Anthropic’s Claude Large Language Model to elevate how they teach, plan lessons, and improve productivity in their day-to-day work.

Graduates of this pilot will receive a year of access to Claude Tools, such as Claude Pro for individuals and Claude Code for developer teams in government, while exploring Claude for Education with university educators, ensuring that this new literacy in AI continues to shape classrooms and the workplace long after the program ends.

A joint ALX, Anthropic, and Government of Rwanda working group will document insights from the pilot to inform Rwanda’s national AI policy in education and develop future innovations such as Chidi for Schools and localised African language models. This initiative is not only about introducing technology into classrooms but about equipping educators and students to learn, teach, and imagine at the pace of their ambition, setting a new standard for inclusive AI-powered learning across Africa.

A partnership shaping the future of learning in Africa

This three-way collaboration unites visionary forces redefining the future of technology and education.

By partnering with ALX and the Rwandan government, we’re ensuring Claude’s capabilities strengthen education safely and responsibly across several countries in Africa

ALX, Africa’s fastest-growing tech talent accelerator, connects hundreds of thousands of young Africans to transformative opportunities, equipping them with the skills to thrive in the global economy. ALX will contribute the training, delivery, and implementation infrastructure, ensuring smooth rollout and educator enablement.

“This is not just about bringing technology to Africa; it’s about reimagining how learning itself happens,” says Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of ALX. ​ “With Chidi, we’re shifting from traditional instruction to intelligent, inquiry-driven learning that builds critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving at scale. This is how Africa’s youth will generate the ideas and solutions that define sustainable development and shape a thriving future.”

Anthropic, a leading U.S.-based AI safety and research company, provides the Claude large language model and technical guidance on safe and responsible deployment. Anthropic will cover LLM/API-related costs to support the deployment of Chidi and Claude access. ​
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​“We believe transformative AI should be accessible to learners across the world, regardless of geography,” says Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic. “By partnering with ALX and the Rwandan government, we’re ensuring Claude’s capabilities strengthen education safely and responsibly across several countries in Africa.”

The Government of Rwanda (represented through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of ICT), a continental leader in digital transformation, is providing the policy infrastructure, access to schools and institutional leadership needed to scale AI for learning and governance, but will not bear any financial commitments under this partnership.

Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education for Rwanda, says: “Rwanda, and Africa’s, ambition is to place safe AI in the hands of educators so students gain timely, future-ready skills. Chidi is designed to free up teachers’ time in lesson preparation, personalised feedback, and to spark curiosity among students, which aligns with our Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) priorities on teaching quality and digital literacy, and advances NST2 goals for human capital. We will assess this pilot based on measurable improvements and scale what proves effective, with safeguards for privacy and academic integrity.”

“Rwanda’s Vision 2050 places youth and technology at the core of national progress, and our goal is to build a workforce equipped for the opportunities of the 21st century,” says Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation in Rwanda. “This collaboration allows us to explore innovative AI tools that could enhance learning, support educators, and strengthen developer capabilities. By beginning with capacity building for civil servants, we ensure our workforce gains the foundational skills to engage with emerging technologies responsibly.”

Together, these partners are ensuring that Africa’s youth have the same AI-powered learning advantages as their peers in Silicon Valley, Beijing, or London. ​ They are creating a new blueprint for AI-enabled education, developed in Africa and shared globally, demonstrating how global technology, African innovation, and public-sector leadership can deliver scalable, ethical, and transformative learning solutions. ​ For future expansion, the partners will jointly explore opportunities to enable scaling up across Rwanda and other African markets.

A defining moment for Africa’s digital transformation

By combining ALX’s learning innovation, Anthropic’s AI technology, and Rwanda’s progressive governance, this initiative provides a direct pathway from ambition to achievement.

As Chidi scales across the continent, with Rwanda serving as the launch hub and model for future deployments, its impact extends well beyond individual success. It repositions Africa as a source of world-class tech talent, empowering educators and learners with the tools to learn, teach, and innovate and solidifying the continent’s place at the forefront of the global digital revolution.

Quote:
“This collaboration marks a bold step in redefining how African talent learns, works, and leads in the age of AI,” says Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of ALX. “Through our partnership with Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda, we are ensuring that Africa’s youth are not just consumers of AI, but creators, shaping the innovations that will define the global economy.”

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ALX.

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Blending Heritage and Innovation, China’s Shangcheng District Hums with Dynamic Vitality

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HANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – On June 1, the Google Cross-border E-commerce Acceleration Center announced its upcoming settlement in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. This marks that Shangcheng has taken the lead in building a world-class digital hub to support local enterprises in going global. It will also serve as a powerful engine for Hangzhou-based businesses to expand into global markets, according to the information office of Shangcheng District government.

Shangcheng District is a place where time-honored cultural heritage blends perfectly with the rhythms of the modern era. Here, the profound heritage of the Southern Song imperial city, robust momentum of cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation, and vibrant international consumption thrive side by side. History converges with the future, and culture complements technology and fashion, composing a harmonious melody that spans thousands of years.

Home to the ruins of the Southern Song imperial city, Shangcheng has been the core of Hangzhou since the Sui and Tang dynasties, carrying forward the elegant Song-style culture for over 800 years. In recent years, the local government has fully advanced the initiative to inherit and promote Song-style culture. It has built an open-air museum and launched a number of cultural tourism routes themed on Song aesthetics, advancing the coordinated development of historic district preservation and urban renewal.

Qinghefang Historical and Cultural Characteristic Block still retains the architectural layout of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The timeless herbal aroma of Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Pharmacy and the exquisite fan craftsmanship of Wang Xing Ji have been passed down through generations. Guided by the philosophy of living heritage, the millennia-old culture has become the deepest foundation for Shangcheng’s development.

Scientific and technological innovation acts as the core driving force for Shangcheng’s high-quality development. In 2025, the district launched the construction of a Central Innovation District (CID) to unleash new productive forces. Covering an area of 122 square kilometers, the entire district has evolved from a traditional commercial center into an innovation ecosystem powered mainly by artificial intelligence.

Shangcheng has set up a ten-billion-yuan industrial fund for artificial intelligence and embodied intelligence, providing financial support for cutting-edge tech enterprises from R&D to commercialization. The district is home to more than 50,000 college graduates under the age of 35, with a total talent pool of 420,000. Its index for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements ranks among the top tier in Zhejiang Province.

Driven by this strategy, a host of innovation platforms have flourished. Renovated from old industrial workshops, Xizi Smart Industrial Park stands as a landmark in Shangcheng’s tech landscape. It now gathers over 30 humanoid robot enterprises, and the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Training Base was officially inaugurated here in early 2026. At the base, humanoid robots have been put into use in factories and daily scenarios, with continuous breakthroughs made in core technologies such as motion control and environmental perception.

The integration of time-honored culture and advanced technology has also given rise to booming international consumption in Shangcheng. The district is speeding up the development of an international fashion and consumption hub and empowering consumption scenarios with digital technologies, steadily striving to become the leading district for digital and smart fashion consumption.

Adjacent to West Lake, Hubin Pedestrian Street attracts 40 million visits annually and houses over 1,200 renowned domestic and international brands. Digital and smart applications have been widely introduced here to create distinctive experiences, bringing technological fun to ordinary consumption.

As one of China’s most influential garment distribution hubs, Sijiqing Fashion Street is undergoing a full transformation into an international tourist and consumption destination. Digital design and flexible manufacturing have reshaped its traditional supply chains, while original designer brands and trendy cultural venues inject youthful vitality into the area. A new international landmark featuring strong commercial appeal and unique cultural charm is taking shape.

“Rooted in history and culture, driven by scientific and technological innovation, and connected via international consumption, Shangcheng demonstrates to the world how an eastern urban district strikes a balance between preservation and innovation, enabling millennia-old heritage to write a new chapter in the contemporary era,” said an official of the district government.
 

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Africa Tech Festival 2026 returns as Africa’s defining platform for digital transformation, investment and innovation

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Africa Tech Festival 2026 is structured around six interconnected pillars that reflect the technologies and priorities driving Africa’s digital economy: Telecoms & Connectivity; Data Centres; AI; Cybersecurity; Startups; and Digital Transformation

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa Tech Festival (https://AfricaTechFestival.com), the continent’s longest running and most influential technology gathering, will return to the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 16 to 19 November 2026, bringing together key stakeholders driving the next phase of Africa’s digital growth.

Now in its 29th edition, Africa Tech Festival, originally launched as AfricaCom, has evolved alongside the continent’s digital transformation, expanding its focus to encompass the full spectrum of technology, investment opportunities and policies that drive economic growth.

At a time when investment in connectivity, subsea cables, fibre networks, data centres and cloud infrastructure is reshaping Africa’s digital landscape, Africa Tech Festival serves as a catalyst for the conversations and partnerships driving that progress. South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is a Strategic Partner of the event, with Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi, confirmed to deliver the opening address.

“Africa Tech Festival is a strategic platform shaping Africa’s digital future, bringing together leaders from across the continent in government and industry to drive collaboration, investment, and innovation. As host country, South Africa is proud to champion an event that not only strengthens partnerships, but advances a shared vision of an inclusive, connected and globally competitive African digital economy,” said Minister Malatsi.

Africa Tech Festival 2026 is structured around six interconnected pillars that reflect the technologies and priorities driving Africa’s digital economy: Telecoms & Connectivity; Data Centres; AI; Cybersecurity; Startups; and Digital Transformation.

Africa Tech Festival is the only forum where leaders from across the tech ecosystem – telecoms operators, hyperscalers and corporate end-users – can come together

Together, these pillars provide a framework for addressing some of the continent’s most pressing priorities, including digital infrastructure expansion, greater connectivity and digital inclusion, responsible AI adoption, stronger data sovereignty and digital trust, and the partnerships and investments needed to unlock Africa’s next wave of innovation and economic growth.

The event will feature dedicated content programmes, executive forums, exhibitions, networking opportunities and investment-focused discussions designed to connect decision-makers from across Africa and around the world.

“It is now clear that this is a defining moment for the ICT sector in Africa. AI adoption is transforming business processes, but it also raises questions around inclusion, data sovereignty and the capacity of digital infrastructure. Africa Tech Festival is the only forum where leaders from across the tech ecosystem – telecoms operators, hyperscalers and corporate end-users – can come together to find the answers,” said David Monaghan, VP, Africa Tech Festival.

As Africa’s digital economy continues to attract global investment and attention, Africa Tech Festival showcases the continent’s capabilities and leadership while connecting African stakeholders with international investors, technology companies and policymakers. Beyond the annual event, it continues to serve as a year-round forum for thought leadership, industry engagement and ecosystem development, helping shape the policies, investments and innovations that are accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.

Register to attend Africa Tech Festival 2026

General registration: https://apo-opa.co/3Sq6goC

For more information, as well as exhibitor and sponsor applications, visit https://AfricaTechFestival.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

 

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HKSTP Forges An Asia–Europe Innovation Gateway at VivaTech 2026

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A stream of partnership propose heightened tech and business connections across continents
HONG KONG / PARIS, FRANCE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 June 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has successfully concluded its Paris delegation to Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2026, which celebrated its 10th anniversary as a global stage for ambitious startups from June 17 to 20. HKSTP reinforces its impactful role as Asia’s I&T ecosystem orchestrator, by confirming the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding (MOU) between Park companies and the European I&T community:

Microalgae expert Algreen, signed with ForNatures, a South Korean Climate Tech company that specialises in carbon capture management, in amplifying mutual research and development capabilities to take a step closer to ESG goals.
Robotics solutions provider Robocore, signed with ARCHTYP, a Slovenian cognitive software startup, enabling the display of a differentiating layer on a proven platform to reach market demands, while also closing deals with French advertising guru JCDecaux, to supply a thousand robots and extend its reach in the European market.
The appeal and use cases of LeafIoT’s green asset management has caught the eyes of European’s professionals in the preservation sector, including the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the Catalonian landscaping and environmental restoration company Gremi de Jardineria de Catalunya, and notably, Professor Andrea Galli from the Laboratory of Geotechnical Analysis and Modelling (GeoT-LAM) at Politecnico di Milano, all taking solid steps in exploring new opportunities and breakthroughs and boosts in market reach.

An Asia-Europe innovation gateway forging forward at VivaTech 2026 with an influx of partnerships propose heightened tech and business connections across the world.

The annual showcase put a spotlight on enabling founders to connect with the local I&T community, explore market access, and forge global partnerships via pitching and matching sessions, networking mixers, and investor engagement. Compared with VivaTech 2025, this year’s delegation achieved even stronger momentum with over 50% growth in opportunities, totalling more than 200 potential business leads worth HK$70M in total.

HKSTP’s growing presence at VivaTech reflects its mission to open new doors for Hong Kong’s startups, build pathways into European markets and create reciprocal opportunities for European innovators to enter Asia through Hong Kong’s strategic location in the world’s No.1 innovation cluster – Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA (World Intellectual Property Organisation Innovation Index).

Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: “France and the EU represent critical opportunities for Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland I&T ventures to scale globally. VivaTech provides a world-class platform for collaboration, co-creation, and knowledge exchange. Our strong ties with French partners underline the importance of Hong Kong as a global launchpad for innovation, supporting startups on their journey from local success to international impact.”

Highlights this year include the expansion of HKSTP’s partnership with Bouygues Construction, a global leader in sustainable construction and infrastructure headquartered in France, and operates across more than 60 countries and is recognised for delivering major projects in transport, energy, real estate, and smart cities.

Through its Hong Kong arm, Dragages Hong Kong, Bouygues has maintained a 70-year legacy in Hong Kong, contributing to iconic infrastructure projects and championing innovation in areas such as construction safety, modular design, green materials, and site automation. HKSTP is the first and only institution in Hong Kong to bridge tech venture directly into the Bouygues Construction “Scale One: programme, providing a fast track to prototyping and commercialisation. This initiative sets a new benchmark for cross-border industrial innovation partnerships, accelerating global impact for Hong Kong startups through trusted collaborations with leading European enterprises.

Building on existing strong foundations, Bouygues Construction is now stepping up collaboration with HKSTP beyond Asia, offering selected Hong Kong startups the chance to showcase solutions at Bouygues’ headquarters in France, with opportunities for solution validation and pilot trials across European operations.

The Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and supported by partners including HKSTP, showcased market-ready solutions spanning AI, green- and health tech from 24 tech ventures, and marked a major milestone in creating a direct bridge between Hong Kong and Europe’s heart of innovation and technology.

 

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