• INP-HB and tech firm Stellenium signed a memorandum to build sovereign cloud and data infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire.
• The project will train engineers, data scientists, and AI governance leaders to reduce reliance on foreign infrastructure.
• Côte d’Ivoire aims to become a regional innovation hub across education, health, finance, and agriculture.

Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts to strengthen its digital sovereignty and technological capacity. The National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) signed a memorandum of understanding with Stellenium, a technology firm specializing in sovereign infrastructure. The agreement, confirmed by INP-HB on its Facebook page after being reported by EIN Presswire on October 10, seeks to develop domestic expertise in artificial intelligence and data management.

Under the memorandum, both partners will create data centers tailored to local needs and establish a sovereign cloud infrastructure designed for startups, enterprises, and public institutions. The project includes the construction of energy systems to ensure the continuous and secure operation of these facilities.

The Stellenium Institute for Sovereign Infrastructure and Innovation (SISII) will lead training programs for engineers, data scientists, and technology governance specialists. The initiative will also coordinate with local ministries and stakeholders to deploy the infrastructure and establish governance frameworks.

Côte d’Ivoire aims to train a new generation of AI professionals, improve the country’s job market competitiveness, and reduce dependence on foreign service providers. The initiative also targets the protection of national data and the creation of a dynamic ecosystem for innovation.

Authorities expect the program to position Côte d’Ivoire as a regional technology hub serving key sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, and agriculture across West Africa.

The partnership comes as the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 ranks Côte d’Ivoire’s startup scene fifth in West Africa and 113th worldwide. This growing reputation strengthens the country’s bid to become a center of technological innovation.

Nancy Coblenz, co-founder and president of Stellenium, said Côte d’Ivoire offers “the ideal environment for an initiative of such magnitude.” She emphasized that the country’s population, infrastructure, and expanding economy create “a fertile ground for deploying technologies and educational programs that drive innovation and growth.”

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum