The Angolan government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have inaugurated the Luanda Science and Technology Park (Luanda Tech), a flagship facility aimed at strengthening research, innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the country’s strategy to diversify its economy.
The new park forms part of the $100 million Science and Technology Development Project (STDP), which has supported the refurbishment of science facilities across Angola and expanded investment in science education and skills development.
Speaking at the inauguration, President João Lourenço said the project would play a vital role in the country’s long-term development.
“This Science and Technology Park comes at the right time, because a country that wants to develop must pay attention to science and technology,” Lourenço said.
He added: “We want this infrastructure to become a meeting point between academia, scientific research, companies and young entrepreneurs. It is through knowledge, innovation and the capacity of our young people that we will build new solutions to address Angola’s challenges. This investment represents an important step towards strengthening national research capacities and advancing the country’s technological development.”
African Development Bank Country Manager Pietro Toigo said the institution intends to build on the initiative by supporting additional technology corridors across Angola during the project’s second phase.
“This is not merely the launch of an important infrastructure asset. It is the celebration of a national vision: a vision of an Angola that invests in knowledge, empowers its youth, strengthens its scientific capabilities, and builds new engines for economic diversification and inclusive growth,” Toigo said.
According to Toigo, Luanda Tech is designed to provide an environment where researchers, entrepreneurs, students and innovators can transform ideas into commercially viable solutions that contribute to economic growth.
Beyond infrastructure, the project has focused heavily on human capital development. It has awarded 161 international scholarships, funded secondary education for 1,204 girls from disadvantaged communities to pursue science-related studies, and strengthened research capacity across the country. Under the STDP, 54 science laboratories have been equipped in 18 secondary schools, while more than 1,500 faculty members, researchers, technicians and academic counsellors have received training. The programme has also financed 73 research projects, with nearly one-third awarded to women.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Albano Lopes Ferreira described the facility as a major milestone for Angola’s innovation agenda.
“The inauguration of the Science and Technology Park represents an important milestone in the implementation of Angola’s national science, technology and innovation policy. This infrastructure creates the conditions to strengthen scientific research, promote innovation, and contribute to economic diversification through knowledge, competitiveness and the development of national solutions,” he said.