Innovation in Africa
Here, we intend to look at the current innovation blocks and how incorporating the concepts of viability, sustainability, and scalability into the entire journey of innovation, from ideation to actualization, we can begin to leave a greater impact onto communities across Africa.
What innovation blocks are running in Africa?
For Africa there are three critical players and funnels that form the current innovation ecosystem:
1.Institutions of higher learning - universities, colleges, etc.
2.Incubators, co-working spaces, and hubs – the home of startups
3.Local enterprises – successful startups in the ecosystem
The funnels of innovation
At the very core of innovation lies ideas and methodologies that nurture and provide a framework for the creative process to take place. Institutions of higher learning provide this environment that helps build up the capacity of an ecosystem to create new solutions for its pains.
Institutions of Higher Learning
Innovation is heavily built around the education systems and supported by culture (both existing and nurtured). Here, ideas are prevalent and the support systems are present to make these ideas come to light. These institutions provide a platform where the private sector can synchronize and deliver industry-grade training to students.
Developer communities thrive in educational institutions that encourages industry level training and learning that helps incentivize innovative ideas. Training based initiatives to training young people, and more recently teens, looking to gain skills or pursue a career in technology are increasing. Moreover, funding options for students are increasing with organizations looking to enable the next great startups, not only from Africa but from across the world.
Next steps for institutions of higher learning
However, despite these numerous channels of opportunity, these institutions need to do more to spur viable, sustainable and scalable innovation across the board. Such steps include:
1.Providing an ecosystem of technology aware investors who can financially support innovative ideas coming out of these institutions.
2.Strategic partnerships with the industry working together creating synergy between the two parties and insight on both ends
3.Updated technical knowledge through training facilitated by the enterprises in the industry ensuring that academic institutions are training for industry needs
4.Encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration with regards to building solutions. Healthcare innovation with input from healthcare experts allows for more robust solutions.
5.Setting the social, cultural and intellectual tone of their local areas and ecosystems – having deep roots in the community they’re in, academic institutions can play a critical role in creating more STEM-based cultures where children are encouraged to take on the sciences.
6.Contributions to government and industrial decision making. Once academic institutions are on the table, it’s much easier to push for innovation as an agenda.
Incubators & Hubs
The training provided in the universities and colleges goes a long way in creating the foundation of co-working spaces, hubs, and incubators. Hubs or co-working spaces thrive on young entrepreneurs who are interested in building solutions for their communities. Currently, according to a 2018 GSMA report, there is 442 number of hubs located in major cities across Africa.
From these hubs, come some of the most exciting ideas and business models that are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. MPESA is the brainchild of a campus undergraduate while ideas such as Tanda and Mellowcab are based in co-working spaces.
There are 6,300+ startups currently running and operational in Africa currently according to Angel List and...
---
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/message
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/support