African Centre for Technology Studies

Policy Research and Advisory Servicesacts-net.org

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a Nairobi-based Intergovernmental organization, founded in 1988, delivering policy research, capacity building, and technology brokerage on science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development across 30+ African countries.

Company typePrivate
Founded1988
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What African Centre for Technology Studies does

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is an Intergovernmental organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on policy-oriented research, capacity strengthening, policy engagement, and technology brokerage to enable African countries to apply science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable development. It is governed by a charter with five signatory governments (Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Malta) and two institutional signatories (The World Academy of Sciences — TWAS, and the World Agroforestry Centre — ICRAF), operating across 30+ African countries.

ACTS delivers its mandate through five core programmes: Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Security (AFNS); Climate Resilient Economies (CRE); STI, Knowledge & Society (STIKS); the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII); and Gender, Youth & Inclusive Development (GYID). Alongside these, ACTS runs targeted projects such as VALORISE (a circular bioeconomy research consortium for Kenya's dairy sector funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark with partners including Roskilde University, DTU, Arla Foods, Egerton University, Bioversity/CIAT, and ESADA), ACES/SPOKE (cold-chain and clean-energy enterprise integration), and Blue Empowerment SACCOs (blue-economy cooperative development). Proprietary technical outputs include the Africanised responsible AI toolbox under ACAII, the VALORISE Circular Bioeconomy methodology, and the ACES/SPOKE Cold-Chain Ecosystem Model.

As a non-profit IGO, ACTS does not commercialise products. Its revenue mechanics consist of intergovernmental contributions from charter signatories, restricted and unrestricted grants from bilateral and multilateral donor agencies (NORAD, Sida, World Bank, USAID, UK Aid, IDRC, UNESCO, FAO, UNIDO, UNEP, UNDP, TWAS), and project-based consultancy. Pricing is not commercially disclosed. ACTS is currently constructing a 4-storey research complex on 2.1 acres at Konza Technopolis, a 5,000-acre Special Economic Zone south of Nairobi, with a stated ambition to contribute up to 2% of Kenya's GDP when fully operational.

African Centre for Technology Studies firmographics

Firmographics

Name: African Centre for Technology Studies
Legal name: African Centre for Technology Studies
Website: https://acts-net.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1988
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a Nairobi-based Intergovernmental organization, founded in 1988, delivering policy research, capacity building, and technology brokerage on science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development across 30+ African countries.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

African Centre for Technology Studies industry classification

Industry

Product category: Policy Research and Advisory Services
NAICS: Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
SIC: Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
akta.pro primary industry: Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)
akta.pro secondary industries: United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ)

Keywords

Policy research services
Capacity building programs
Science technology innovation
Sustainable development research
Technology brokerage services

Where African Centre for Technology Studies is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Nairobi
HQ country: Kenya
HQ region: Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

African Centre for Technology Studies business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Intergovernmental Organization Funding: ACTS receives funding from signatory governments including Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, and Malta, as well as international organizations like TWAS and World Agroforestry Centre.
Donor Agency Grants: Funding from development partners including NORAD, Sida (Sweden), World Bank, USAID, UK Aid, IDRC, UNESCO, FAO, UNIDO, UNEP, and UNDP for research programmes and capacity building projects.
Project-Based Consultancy: Resource mobilization and partnership development for specific programmes like the Blue Empowerment SACCOs project, with success fees based on secured funding amounts (3-7% of staff costs).

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

African Centre for Technology Studies product offering

Product offering

Core offering

African Centre for Technology Studies conducts policy-oriented research, capacity building, policy engagement, and technology brokerage on the applications of science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development in Africa. The organization delivers its work through five core programmes (AFNS, CRE, STIKS, ACAII, GYID) and a portfolio of funded projects such as VALORISE and ACES/SPOKE. Offerings are structured as research outputs, advisory services, training, and convening activities targeted at governments, regional bodies, and development partners.

Product overview

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a pioneering development research think tank operating as an Intergovernmental organization founded in 1988. The organization is structured around five core programmes: Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Security (AFNS), Climate Resilient Economies (CRE), STI Knowledge & Society (STIKS), the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII), and Gender Youth & Inclusive Development (GYID). These programmes are delivered through policy research, capacity building, policy engagement, and knowledge brokerage. Additional initiatives include the VALORISE project on circular bioeconomy in Kenya's dairy sector and the ACES/SPOKE programme supporting clean energy enterprises. The organization focuses on policy-oriented research to strengthen African countries' capacity to harness science and technology for sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

VALORISE: A Circular Bioeconomy for the Kenyan Dairy Sector project focusing on whey valorization and sustainable dairy processing
ACTS AI Institute (ACAII)
APA Seasonal School

Products and services

AFNS Programme (Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Systems)
CRE Programme (Climate-Resilient Economies)
STIKS Programme (Science, Technology and Innovation Knowledge Systems)
ACAII (ACTS African Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Impact)
GYID Programme (Green Youth Inclusive Development)
VALORISE Project
ACES/SPOKE Programme

Quantifiable outcome

50% uplift in farmer returns through ACES SPOKE programme
+1 more outcomes

Companies that use African Centre for Technology Studies

Customer profile

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

African Centre for Technology Studies technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

African Centre for Technology Studies partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Roskilde University (RUC), DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research consortium partner in the VALORISE project focusing on circular bioeconomy for the Kenyan dairy sector. RUC contributes academic expertise in bioeconomy research methodology and interdisciplinary analysis.
Danish Technical University (DTU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Technical university partner in the VALORISE consortium providing engineering and technical expertise for dairy processing technology analysis and innovation pathways.
Arla Foods, DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Industry partner contributing expertise in dairy processing, whey valorisation technologies, and business model development. Arla processes over 225 million kilograms of whey annually and provides technology transfer for local processing.
Egerton University, KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Kenyan university partner providing local research capacity, consumer studies, and agribusiness expertise for the VALORISE dairy sector research.
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International agricultural research partnership contributing expertise in sustainable food systems, biodiversity, and cost-benefit analysis methodologies.
East and Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Regional dairy industry association providing industry insights, market access knowledge, and connections to dairy sector stakeholders across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational science academy and signatory to ACTS charter, providing global scientific network access and credibility for science policy work across developing countries.
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research institution and charter signatory, contributing expertise in sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, and environmental management.
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN network supporting sustainable development solutions, contributing to knowledge sharing and policy frameworks.
Global Green Growth Institute (GGKP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on green growth, contributing expertise on sustainable economic development pathways.
FAOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood and Agriculture Organization contributing expertise on food security, agriculture, and sustainable development.
UNIDOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization providing expertise on industrial development and technology transfer.
UNEPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Environment Programme contributing expertise on environmental sustainability and climate action.
Konza TechnopoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTS has begun construction of its new office complex at Konza Technopolis, a 5,000-acre technology city south of Nairobi. This physical co-location signals institutional commitment to Kenya's science city project and aims to contribute up to 2% of Kenya's GDP when fully operational.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

African Centre for Technology Studies competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

World Resources Institute (WRI): A global research organization with substantially larger scale than ACTS, working at the intersection of environment and development — overlaps with ACTS's Climate Resilient Economies programme and broader STI policy work.
African Development Bank (AfDB): A pan-African multilateral development finance institution that both funds and conducts research on African development — a broader incumbent that partners with ACTS-type organizations on policy research and capacity building.

Direct peers

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): An independent research organization delivering policy research and knowledge products on sustainable development, with overlapping focus areas in climate, agriculture, and STI policy — and a similar donor-funded, multi-stakeholder engagement model.
Overseas Development Institute (ODI): A leading global affairs think tank producing research and policy advice on international development, with comparable programmes in climate, agriculture, and inclusive economic development — and similar donor ecosystem.
Stockholm Environment Institute: An independent, international research organization working on environment and sustainable development, with a comparable model of policy-oriented research, capacity building, and donor-funded projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): A CGIAR research center providing policy research on food security, agriculture, and nutrition — directly comparable to ACTS's Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Security (AFNS) programme and its evidence-based policy advisory model.
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): A CGIAR research center conducting livestock and agriculture research in Africa, with overlapping programmes in dairy (VALORISE), food systems, and bioeconomy — similar donor-funded research model and African footprint.
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF): The African Union's specialized agency for capacity building across the continent — directly comparable to ACTS's capacity-building mandate and intergovernmental structure, with overlapping programmes in policy analysis and STI.
Africa Policy Research Institute: An Africa-focused policy research institute providing independent research and advisory services across the continent — comparable in geography, scale, and policy-oriented research mandate, particularly on inclusive development.

Regional players

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-South Africa): South Africa's national R&D organization conducting scientific and industrial research with policy advisory functions — comparable in STI policy mandate and African footprint, though larger and more infrastructure-heavy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

African Centre for Technology Studies financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

African Centre for Technology Studies leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

African Centre for Technology Studies funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

African Centre for Technology Studies M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African Centre for Technology Studies

What does African Centre for Technology Studies do?

Is African Centre for Technology Studies a public or private company?

African Centre for Technology Studies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was African Centre for Technology Studies founded?

African Centre for Technology Studies was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is African Centre for Technology Studies based?

African Centre for Technology Studies is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.

How does African Centre for Technology Studies make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Intergovernmental Organization Funding is the primary driver. The others are donor Agency Grants and project-Based Consultancy.

Who are African Centre for Technology Studies's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are World Resources Institute (WRI) and African Development Bank (AfDB). Direct peers are International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Stockholm Environment Institute, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and Africa Policy Research Institute. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-South Africa) is listed as a regional player.

Does African Centre for Technology Studies have an API?

No public API is recorded for African Centre for Technology Studies.

What industry is African Centre for Technology Studies in?

African Centre for Technology Studies's product category is Policy Research and Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADABAO, Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.