Microsoft on Tuesday opened a research and development center in Nairobi.
The facility named Africa Development Centre (ADC) will be tasked with coming up with innovative solutions.
The center is the first of its kind in the continent and is expected to help the technology giant grow its market share in sub-Saharan Africa.
The unveiling of the facility comes in the wake of increased use of technology in various economic sectors.
The Nairobi facility is the seventh globally, with Nigeria set to host the ninth and the second in the continent later this year.
The Washington-headquartered firm will spend Sh10 billion over the next five years on the two centers.
100 full-time local engineers will be employed in the two ADCs with the number projected to grow to more than 500 by the end of 2023.
“The ADC will be unlike any other existing investment on the continent. It will help us better listen to our customers, develop locally and scale for global impact,” says Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President for Gaming.
“Beyond that, it is an opportunity to engage more with local partners, academia, governments, and developers — driving impact and innovation in sectors important to Africa.”
