From 28 to 30 May, a delegation of Angolan business incubation managers, Angela de Miranda Head of Innovation and Silvio Faustino, managing partner from Acelera Angola took part in the first round of staff exchange hosted by R&D and 1888EC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They had three dynamic peer learning, knowledge-sharing sessions, best practices exchange, and networking including with other ecosystem players and hubs. They also learnt about the BIC Ethiopia project activities focusing on agri-business and Agri-Tech support. The second round of exchange for the Ethiopian BIs to Angola will take place in October 2025. The staff exchange is organised in collaboration with the Angolan Country Project and BIC Ethiopia project.
The mission provided an in-depth understanding of the Ethiopian entrepreneurial ecosystem, highlighting practices and institutional structures that can be adapted or replicated in Angola. This mission represents another strategic step for Acelera, which will continue to work to adapt successful models, stimulate partnerships and boost the exchange of experiences between African entrepreneurs.
Silvio Faustino, Managing partner of Acelera Angola
Shortly after, the second round of staff exchange for four Malagasy business incubation managers took place in Moroni, Comoros from the 2nd to 4th of June 2025, who were hosted by Comor’Lab, Com’Work, and Ghiyada Africa – Comorian business incubators. The participants from Madagascar were namely:
- RAHARISON Maharavo Elisée from Chamber of Agriculture of Madagascar – House of Farmer Producers (TTM)
- Mickaëla Parfaite Rateloarison from KENTIA FORMATION
- Darcel Ulrich Ravolahy from NextA
- Sitraka Nantenaina RASOANAIVO from Active Youth for Sustainable Development (JADD Madagascar)
This second-round staff exchange programme concluded with resounding success, building on the success of the first exchange held last year in Madagascar, whereby three Comorian incubation managers visited Malagasy business incubators with the support of Incuboost Madagascar project implemented by UNIDO and PPI, and the APILE Comoros project implemented by UNIDO. The ongoing collaboration continues to foster mutual learning, cross-border partnerships, and shared strategies to support entrepreneurs and startups across the two ecosystems to continuing this impactful regional engagement. The visitors have a tailored exchange to explore and dive deeper into the Comorian innovation and startup ecosystem as well as visited some local startups. The exchange concluded with a meeting with the newly established association of business incubators in the Comoros KOMsae.
The staff exchange programme is a key strategical initiative for practical peer-to-peer knowledge transfer among African BIs within the BIC Africa target countries (Angola, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somalia). It facilitates short-term inter-regional exchanges of business incubation staff members, providing a platform for BIs to learn from each other about practical experience in the day-to-day operations and management of business incubation services for their clients, fostering long-term sustainable relationships. These relationships will scout regional connections, partnerships and opportunities for their client companies.
This initiative is designed to meet several key objectives:
- Provide business incubators (BIs) with first-hand experience in the management, structure, and operational activities of their African counterparts.
- Foster connections between BIs for knowledge sharing, partnerships, and future exchange programmes.
- Enhance the capacity of selected BIs through peer learning and networking, enabled by regional collaboration.
- Bridge regional ecosystems by directly connecting BIs to co-design and implement incubation programmes that support scalable businesses.
- Empower BIs to identify and develop collaborative business models that are aligned with local realities, driving their growth and long-term sustainability.
We’re proud to run this strategic staff exchange initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by EBN – European Business & Innovation Centre Network in collaboration with the Angola, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somalia country projects. Our goal is to reinforce business incubation capacities and foster cross-border collaboration across African innovation ecosystems, by strengthening networks and promoting collaborative development among African business incubators.
These exchanges reflect BIC Africa’s commitment to supporting the regional connection and entrepreneurship support across the continent, by strengthening networks and promoting collaborative development among African incubators.
We thank the host business incubation organisation and the Angola, BIC Ethiopia, APILE Comoros and INCUBOOST Madagascar country projects and partners for supporting the successful exchanges and for making this enriching experience possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected entrepreneurial ecosystem across Africa.