Haramaya University Advances Ethiopia’s Digital 2030 Vision Through Landmark Startup Ecosystem Workshop
Haramaya University successfully hosted a high-impact awareness workshop on Ethiopia’s National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP), Digital 2030 Strategy, and the newly enacted Ethiopian Startup Proclamation No. 1396/2025 on Monday, February 23, 2026. The event brought together over 150 participants including students, faculty members, industry representatives, and government officials to the University Meeting Hall, marking a significant step in advancing the nation’s innovation-driven economic transformation.
Dr. Yishak Yusuf, Vice President for Research and Community Services (serving as President’s Delegate), delivered opening remarks that underscored Haramaya University’s commitment to aligning institutional research and innovation capacities with national development priorities. He emphasized the university’s readiness to serve as a catalyst for translating policy into tangible economic impact through student entrepreneurship and research commercialization.
The workshop featured three expert presentations from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT):
Dr. Abebe Mola (Policy, Strategy Research & Development Analyst) outlined Ethiopia’s National STI Policy framework and its implementation roadmap
Taddesse Anbessie (Head of Startups Support) detailed the groundbreaking provisions of Startup Proclamation No. 1396/2025 including startup designation pathways, grant programs, tax incentives, and duty-free import privileges for innovation infrastructure
Tewodros Tazeze (Head of E-Government Services) presented the Digital 2030 Strategy’s key performance indicators and Haramaya’s strategic role in achieving national digital transformation targets
Dr. Yishak Yusuf delivering opening remarks at the podium
Digital Infrastructure: Enabling Ethiopia’s Startup Ecosystem
A key theme throughout the workshop was the critical role of digital infrastructure in enabling Ethiopia’s startup ecosystem. Presenters highlighted three technology imperatives embedded in the Proclamation:
- Digital Startup Portal (Article 4) A single window platform for designation applications, monitoring, and ecosystem connectivity
- Regulatory Sandbox (Article 37) Technology enabled testing environments requiring secure cloud infrastructure for startups to safely trial fintech, agritech, and edtech innovations
- Duty-Free Technology Imports (Articles 33–34) Provisions enabling universities to import AI/ML servers, prototyping equipment, and innovation lab hardware without customs duties
Dr. Milkyas Hailu, ICT Director and Master of Ceremony for the event, guided participants through the program agenda and emphasized the university’s commitment to providing robust digital infrastructure to support student innovators. Dr. Yishak Yusuf then facilitated an engaging 50-minute dialogue session featuring all three MInT presenters, during which students and faculty posed substantive questions about navigating the designation process, accessing grants, and leveraging digital tools for innovation.
Student Engagement Signals Strong Momentum
The workshop generated notable enthusiasm among student entrepreneurs, many of whom approached presenters during breaks to discuss prototype development and designation pathways for their ventures. This immediate translation of policy awareness into entrepreneurial ambition signaled strong readiness within Haramaya’s student community to engage with Ethiopia’s emerging startup ecosystem.
In closing remarks, Mr. Nurelegn Koku (MInT Representative) affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to university-led innovation and invited Haramaya to formalize its role as an ecosystem builder under the Proclamation framework.
Pathway Forward: From Awareness to Action
Building on this momentum, Haramaya University is positioned to advance several strategic initiatives aligned with the Proclamation:
Establishing a university-based Startup Incubator to support student ventures through the designation process
Leveraging duty-free import privileges to equip innovation labs with cutting-edge technology infrastructure
Developing sandbox environments for testing student-developed solutions in regulated sectors
Submitting a formal proposal to MInT for ecosystem builder designation to channel national resources to Eastern Ethiopia’s innovators
The workshop concluded with strong consensus that Haramaya University is uniquely positioned to lead Ethiopia’s eastern region in translating the Startup Proclamation’s vision into reality bridging policy, technology infrastructure, and entrepreneurial talent to accelerate national economic transformation under the Digital 2030 agenda.
Tags: Capacity Building, Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurship, Ethiopia Digital 2030, Haramaya University, higher education, Innovation Workshop, Startup Ecosystem, Technology Development, University Initiatives
