Senegal launches four living labs with the support of Catalonia to drive digital and social innovatio

Dangalma, Kaolack, Ziguinchor and Saint-Louis are the first cities in the country to host digital social innovation laboratories as part of a national network aimed at combating the digital divide and promoting local entrepreneurship.

Four towns in Senegal will begin deploying the country’s first living labs to promote social and digital innovation, with support from Catalan cooperation. The project is driven by the Fonds de Développement du Service Universel des Télécommunications (FDSUT), with the backing of the Catalan Cooperation Agency for Development (ACCD) and the research centre i2CAT.

The project is part of Senegal’s digital transformation strategy, led by the FDSUT and aligned with the New Technological Deal. This national strategy primarily aims to extend connectivity to the so-called white areas, that is, regions of Senegal that currently lack broadband infrastructure. In this regard, one of the key pillars is the promotion of living labs as a methodology for open, social and digital innovation, to build a resilient ecosystem, fostering entrepreneurship and improving the delivery of public services through technology.

Each Senegalese community has identified specific challenges that will guide the initial lines of work for the future Living Labs. In Dangalma, the Living Lab is led by the University of Bambey. It focuses on the commercialisation of agricultural products, livestock farming and herd management, soil analysis, water efficiency and online training for farmers. From Kaolack, the projects focus on precision agriculture and green technologies, digital commerce, and health and nutrition. In Ziguinchor and Saint-Louis, priority areas have been identified in digital transformation, climate change, the green economy, and sustainable fishing, in collaboration with universities and local stakeholders. The Ziguinchor Living Lab will be developed at the Assane Seck University Campus, establishing a close cooperation with the Faculty of Computer Science and Technology, and, as for Saint-Louis, it is in the phase of identifying the community’s challenges and needs.

A new model of digital cooperation

The project has also driven the creation of a Scientific Committee, composed of representatives from the various labs, universities and stakeholders in the Senegalese innovation ecosystem, with the mission of ensuring alignment with the national digital transformation objectives.

At the collaboration level, i2CAT has provided technological and methodological advice, supported the training of local teams, and facilitated the use of digital tools for lab management. The ACCD has contributed its expertise in cooperation and knowledge of the territory, while the FDSUT has connected the project with Senegal’s public policies.

With the foundations now in place, the project is entering a new phase to launch the first laboratories and validate the models developed. This is a key step towards a new model of international cooperation, centred on digital empowerment and collaborative innovation in the service of social development.