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About Us
R&D Brokerage for Africa
We connect companies with verified African researchers to solve real business challenges. By tapping into local expertise, we help businesses invest in R&D that actually works, and build solutions that create value across the continent.
THE PROBLEM
Africa's innovation potential is not the question. The issue is what's holding it back.
Africa's innovation ecosystem has enormous potential, yet efficiency and productivity across wider industry remains low. Total Factor Productivity across the continent is hampered by low levels of human capital, inefficient resource allocation, and systemic institutional barriers.
A critical contributor to this negative status quo is severely low investment in research and development. Data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics shows that Africa has 97 researchers for every million persons, compared to 4,789 in North America and 3,704 in Europe. Consequently, African countries dominate the lower echelons of the Global Innovation Index — 80% of the lowest-performing countries are located on the continent.
The gap between local research activity and practical industry challenges is not a talent problem. It is a connection problem.
97 researchers per million people in Africa, versus 4,789 in North America.
A US$7 billion annual opportunity to strengthen business innovation through R&D across Africa.
THE IMPERATIVE
Strengthening R&D is not a luxury. It is the foundation for everything else.
Private industry across Africa needs locally relevant R&D to boost productivity and drive scale. Local research talent across higher institutions and research institutes needs access to private industry — to work on problems that stretch them and build their capacity.
Optimizing capital to strengthen business innovation through R&D represents a US$7 billion annual opportunity across Africa. This includes an estimated US$6.6 billion in potential new private R&D expenditure that could be mobilized from corporations across Africa's private sector.
Technology can facilitate this connection — matching industry needs with developed, specialized local research talent pools and facilitating capital flows into R&D for industry and business innovation. At scale, this has the potential to grow and sustain research enterprise on the continent and accelerate industry innovation through higher quality, high-value, relevant research output.
THINKNG’S RESPONSE
A multi-country platform that brokers end-to-end R&D for corporations across Africa.
Thinkng operates at the intersection between research and industry. The platform facilitates the emergence of specialized, industry needs-aligned R&D talent pools and enables access to these talent pools for private enterprises on the continent — sustainably and cost-effectively.
We deliver this through three connected approaches: Cohort-Based R&D Resourcing, which develops and equips multiple cohorts of local research talent to engage directly with industry-specific innovation demands; Direct Facilitation of IP Development, which resources high- value enterprise R&D projects to facilitate IP generation leveraging local R&D assets; and R&D Skills Psychometric Assessments, which identify high-potential local R&D talent capable of carrying out high- quality research.
Our platform builds on proven models like Andela's success in Africa's technology talent development, adapting this approach to Africa's research and innovation landscape — with a set target of US$1.2 billion in annual private R&D capital mobilized by 2030.
$1.2B
Target annual R&D capital by 2030
500+
Researchers trained so far
Who We Are
We Are Thinkng
We connect companies with verified African researchers to solve real business challenges. By tapping into local expertise, we help businesses invest in R&D that actually works, and build solutions that create value across the continent.
Partner With Us
Turning research expertise into paid opportunities.
Our Purpose, Mission & Vision
Our Purpose
To transform Africa's R&D potential into a definitive driver of prosperity, global competitiveness, and undeniable real- world impact.
Our Mission
To channel private-sector capital and research talent into applied R&D projects that turn Africa's ideas into measurable industry and community outcomes.
Our Vision
A continent where R&D fuels enterprise, prosperity, and pride — an indispensable engine of global innovation.
94+
Projects supported
500+
Researchers trained
100+
Partners engaged
$1.2B
Capital mobilized
100+
Verified outcomes
Our Values
What Guides Us
Lead with Evidence
We advance only what is proven. Every decision, prgoject, and partnership is grounded in verifiable data.
Earn Trust through Transparency
We say what we do and show what we have done. Trust is our ecosystem's currency; we earn it by being accountable in both success and failure.
Deliver with Precision
We measure twice, act once, and deliver results that withstand rigorous scrutiny. Precision is respect for data, diligence, and the measurable impact our partners deserve.
Rooted in Local Intelligence
We start from local realities and insights. The strongest ideas grow from context — country-specific truths, lived expertise, and data from each market we serve.
Think in Systems
We build for continuity, not applause. We design ecosystems where R&D- driven innovation becomes routine infrastructure for African prosperity.
Leadership
Led by Thinkers, Researchers & Industry Builders
Our leadership team brings expertise in research management, private-sector partnerships, policy implementation, and African innovation ecosystems. We combine local insights with continental experience to guide Thinkng's strategic direction.
Founder
Johnatan Moralle
Founder
Daniel Brita
Sales Manager
Rebeca Johnson
Founder
Johnatan Moralle
Let's Build Africa's R&D
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