Konza Technopolis has inked a travel agreement with Kenya Airways for delegates in the upcoming 41st International Association of Science Parks (IASP) Conference. The travel agreement will entitle IASP delegates to up to a 15 per cent discount on their travel tickets for international delegates travelling on KQ and their Sky Team Partners. A seven per cent discount will be extended to domestic travellers on Kenya Airways flights by applying the promo code ‘KONZA24’ while booking online.
“We are happy to have signed this travel deal which will see IASP delegates enjoy discounts as they travel from various destinations to attend the World Conference in Nairobi.” John Paul Okwiri, Konza Technopolis’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said during the signing ceremony.
Kenya Airways, commonly known by its code name KQ, becomes the official airline Partner for the IASP conference that will take place from 24th to 27th September 2024. Over 1,000 delegates, both local and international, are expected to attend the conference.
“As KQ, we are glad to partner with Konza Technopolis in the IASP World Conference as the Official Airline Partner. We are also glad to collaborate in sustainability and other technology opportunities now and in future. With the discounts issued to the IASP delegates, we do hope that they also take the opportunity to tour Kenya’s various destinations aboard a KQ flight” Helen Mwariri, KQ Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer said.
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The International Association of Science Parks (IASP)is a worldwide membership-based association comprising Science and Technology Parks (STPs), innovation districts, and other Areas of Innovation (AOIs). The Association has a vast network of over 115,000 companies and 350 member organizations. It has established a presence in over 76 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Latin, North America, West Asia, and North Africa
Every year, the IASP hosts its annual international conference focusing on different themes in the innovation and science parks space, in different member countries to discuss and debate in depth the latest trends in the industry’s increasingly complex structures for professional innovation support.
“Konza Technopolis, a full member of the IASP, was granted the rights to host this year’s conference. We are looking forward to hosting the delegates for the conference,” Okwiri said. Kenya is the second country in Africa to host the IASP Conference and it comes 18 years since the last one was held in South Africa in 2008, Mr. Okwiri noted.
In 2021, Konza Technopolis, on behalf of Kenya, submitted a bid to host the IASP World Conference in 2024. At the 39th IASP World Conference held in Seville, Spain in September 2022 Kenya was voted as the preferred candidate for the 2024 conference garnering 84 votes at the general assembly of members. The theme for this year conference is “Demographics, entrepreneurship and technology: Defining the frontiers of future economies.