The US firm already has 11 research outposts around the world. 

 

It plans to have up to 50 researchers in the new centre within five years, attracting potential candidates from across the continent.

 

East Africa - especially Nairobi - has recently become an attractive destination for foreign hi-tech firms.

 

IBM already has operations in more than 20 African countries, but this will be its first research centre on the continent.

 

It is not clear how much the company will invest in the new lab, but globally, it spends about $6.5bn per year for research and development.

 

Kenya plans to contribute $2m over five years, with copyrights for resulting works being shared, according to information and communication permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo.

 

The initiative is aimed specifically at helping³ Kenya increase the use of technology in public sector⁴ areas.

 

"The research lab will be dealing⁵ with traffic congestion, which is a huge problem, as well as solving the clean water issue, and population density⁶ in cities," an IBM spokesman told the BBC. 

 

According to IBM's 2011 Commuter⁷ Pain survey, roads in Nairobi are the fourth most congested in the world.

 

"With a growth rate expected to average 7% annually⁸ over the next 20 years, Africa is poised⁹ to become a leading source of innovation in a variety of industries," IBM said.

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