OUR MISSION
SIT Foundation is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing science, education, and innovation in Ghana and across the African continent. Our mission is to empower the next generation through:
- Educational Opportunities – Providing hands-on STEM education and mentorship for students and early-career scientists.
- Access to Research – Supporting infrastructure, resources, and programs that enable African researchers to conduct world-class science.
- Scientific Awareness – Promoting science literacy and inspiring curiosity through outreach and community engagement.
- Global Collaboration – Bridging partnerships between African institutions and international scientific communities, especially in the United States.
We believe that investing in science and technology is key to sustainable development and equity across Africa.
VISION
Gateway to African biotechnology economy through research, innovation and training support.
VALUES
Champion biotechnology capacity development through education and innovations.
Collaborative impact across academia, industry, governments, and communities—to drive transformative change in Africa.
GOALS
Establish training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities to build a skilled and innovative African scientific workforce.
Advocate for increased investment in biotechnology and evidence-based policy to support scientific development across the continent.
Provide African scientists and students with access to cutting-edge tools, techniques, and platforms for molecular biology, genomics, diagnostics, and bioinformatics
Host conferences, symposia, and networking forums to promote idea-sharing, visibility, and collaboration among African and global stakeholders.
Board of Directors
Dr. Cassandra Extavour
Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Harvard University, USA
Dr. Detlef Weigel
Director, Max Planck Institute, Germany
Mr. Tim Rowe
Founder & CEO, Cambridge Innovation Center, USA
Dr. Chonnettia Jones
President & Executive Director, Addgene, USA
Mr. Pranav Seshadri
Investor, T.Rx Capital, Boston, USA
FOUNDER’S STORY
Andrews Akwasi Agbleke (Kwasi) is a passionate scientist who is working to fulfill one of his dreams —making science more interactive and approachable. The idea for starting a research institute came to him in 2008 when he was studying biochemistry for his undergraduate degree in Ghana. At that time, he realized science education should be more dynamic and experiment-focused, especially in order to train future scientists. He later moved to the USA to do a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, after which he started to work as a postdoctoral research scientist at Harvard followed which he worked at the Harvard Center for Biological Imaging before transiting to lead the Sena Institute of Technology.
While pursuing his academic career, Agbleke has dedicated significant effort to building scientific infrastructure and research support system in his home country of Ghana through his nonprofit the Sena Institute of Technology (SIT). He co-founded SIT with his brother, Mr. Michael Agbleke, in 2009 with the long-term goal of building research capacity for basic research in Africa and funded the institute’s initial construction himself. The pair personally funded the construction of the building, shipment of donated equipment and started its first project in biodiversity and conservation in plants.
Since its formation in 2021, the Sena Institute of Technology Foundation has been generously supported by Dr. Rich Roberts, the 1993 Nobel Laureate and Chief Scientific Officer of New England Biolabs. He’s played a pivotal role in its successes till date.
“Global scientific equity begins with capacity building to empower people to develop their potential locally,” Dr. Agbleke says.
Your donation enables us to execute our mission and vision of supporting educational, research and technological advances within Ghana and the broader African continent. Donors are able to take tax deductions for donations to the extent permitted by law.
Address checks to:
Sena Institute of Technology Foundation
75 State Street, Suite 100
Boston, MA, 02109, USA
Email: sitfoundations@gmail.com