Under the leadership of His Excellency, the President Rtd. Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone, has firmly positioned innovation as central to its national development and economic transformation agenda. Since 2018, the Government has established landmark institutions such as the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) to spearhead the country’s digital shift.

Guided by bold policy frameworks such as the National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS) and the 2024–2030 Medium-Term National Development Plan, which highlights Technology as one of the “Big Five Game Changers,” the nation is building the foundations of an inclusive digital economy.

Significant progress is already visible: digital infrastructure is expanding, public-private partnerships are growing, and donor-backed innovation programmes are delivering measurable impact in health, education, agriculture, and governance. Building on the momentum of the 2025 Sierra Leone Innovates: Digital Government Summit, the Government is advancing the establishment of the Sierra Leone Innovation Investment Fund (SLIIF), a blended finance vehicle to mobilise capital, accelerate infrastructure, develop future-ready talent, and nurture a thriving startup ecosystem.