Local innovators to benefit from continental showcase
Dumisani Ncube | Tuesday May 24, 2016 10:50
Addressing the media last week, IPA director, Pauline Koelbl stated that this will be a platform for local innovators to learn more and get more exposure, as there would be a number of empowerment activities and workshops prior to the awarding ceremony.
“We have two parallel workshops, we call them connectors. They would consist of policy makers, investors, institutions and anyone who can add value. The first one focuses on intellectual property whereby professionals would identify local innovators that want to learn about protecting their innovations,” said Koelbl.
Apart from the connectors, Koelbl stated that there will be bootcamp sessions whereby experts would be sensitising innovators on how they should approach investors.
In the same setting innovators would display their craft for different individuals to see.
IPA is also working on collaborating local innovators with overseas-based innovators. “They would link up online then get to meet during the two-day period of the IPA period. Students from different tertiary institutions would also be invited for theses workshops and activities.
“We are bringing students to come around and mingle with innovators. We would set up a space that they would use as a working station,” she said. Despite being the host country for the awarding ceremony Botswana does not have a nominee of its own among the 10 innovators. Four are from South Africa, three are from Nigeria, the last three are from Egypt, Benin and Kenya respectively.
“Hosting this event shows that Botswana is innovative, it is also a confirmation that Botswana is working on building an ecosystem innovation system,” said Koelbl.
The 10 nominees were picked from 900 innovators who were selected by a panel of judges.
At the moment BIH is conducting innovation road shows around the country sensitising the importance of being innovative in a community set up.