By: Solar quarter

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has strengthened its collaboration with Ethiopia through the launch of the country’s first Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C), hosted by Addis Ababa University.

ISA Director General Ashish Khanna met with Dr. Samuel Kifle Kidane, President of Addis Ababa University, alongside representatives from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, private sector stakeholders, and ISA’s knowledge and capacity-building team to align on the vision for STAR-C Ethiopia. The initiative is fully embedded in Ethiopia’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF).

Key Priorities Outlined

Discussions during the meeting focused on:

• Technology testing and certification
• Entrepreneurship, innovation, and incubation partnerships
• International academic collaborations and Training of Trainers (ToT)
• Digitalisation and long-term sustainability of solar initiatives

Dr. Kidane expressed strong support for the project, underscoring the importance of collaboration between academia, the private sector, and international partners to accelerate Ethiopia’s clean energy transition.

A Regional Solar Hub

STAR-C Ethiopia is positioned to serve as a regional hub for solar innovation, skills development, and research. By advancing Ethiopia’s national technology strategy and aligning with ISA’s global mission, the centre aims to boost capacity building, enhance innovation, and promote sustainable solar energy solutions across the region.