The Ministry of Education and EDI Sign MoA to Transform Universities into Entrepreneurial Hubs

In a move set to strengthen the critical role of higher education in realizing Ethiopia’s ambitious economic aspirations, the FDRE Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) officially signed a Memorandum of Action (MoA) at the Capital Hotel in Addis Ababa on December 24, 2025.

Through the agreement, the two organizations will launch a nationwide initiative to establish Business, Technology, and Innovation Incubation Centers (BTIICs) in six strategic regional clusters, eventually scaling across 50 public and private universities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Mr. Kora Tushune, State Minister of Education, emphasized that this partnership is more than just a formal agreement; it is a practical blueprint for reform.

"This partnership is a model to change knowledge and theory into tangible action and impact," the State Minister remarked. "It also strengthens entrepreneurial thinking in our universities, ensuring that academic research translates into economic value."

Dr. Hassan Hussein, Director General of EDI, expressed his enthusiasm for the high-level commitment shown by the government. "Education is the base of everything," Dr. Hussein stated. "Embedding entrepreneurship within education goes beyond ensuring industry has a steady stream of talent it is about becoming the main engine for national growth."

During the event, Mr. Boru Shana, Deputy Director General of EDI, delivered a detailed presentation on the "Entrepreneurial University" model to be rolled out as part of the landmark agreement.

The framework seeks to move beyond traditional teaching by integrating innovation, venture creation, and industry linkages into the core mission of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The MoA outlines a phased 24-month implementation plan, focusing on:

•  Capacity Building: Training university leadership and faculty in innovative pedagogy and mentoring.
•  Infrastructure: Establishing physical University BTIICs and Entrepreneurial Hubs (UBEHs).
•  Ecosystem Linkage: Connecting student-led startups with mentors, investors, policymakers, and national markets.

To ensure nationwide impact, the project will be coordinated through six leading universities acting as regional hubs:

•  Central Cluster: Addis Ababa Science & Technology University
•  North-East Cluster: Mekelle University
•  South Cluster: Hawassa University
•  East Cluster: Haramaya University
•  North-West Cluster: Bahir Dar University and
•  South-West Cluster: Jimma University.

The primary goal of this MoA is to support participating universities in their core mission: not just meeting the needs of the labor market and producing a steady stream of top talent for industry, but rather laying the necessary conditions for a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.

The partnership will be governed by a National Steering Committee chaired by the Ministry of Education and co-led by EDI, ensuring that the reforms are aligned with the National Education and Training Policy.