The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has partnered with the South African Innovation Summit (SAIS) to host the 2020 Innovation Summit that will be held from 30 September to 01 October 2020. The event will be held virtually, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The summit brings together innovation leaders from different countries, backgrounds, disciplines and worldviews, to create an innovative environment that will prosper the South African economy and have a positive effect on entrepreneurs’ competitive edge.
As part of this year’s programme, an Inventors Garage competition will take place, with participants showcasing their creations at the summit. The competition is a tribute to the spirit of innovation and the work of dedicated inventors whose pioneering inventions provide answers to some of the biggest challenges of our times.
The Innovation Summit is a major public gathering on the South African calendar – it showcases, connects, capacitates, and originates the best start-up talent from Africa to the world. It has done so for 13 years and made possible deals worth billions for African entrepreneurs.
The Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says the dtic is excited about hosting the Inventors’ Garage competition this year and profile the inventions of young South Africans as well as the outputs of our technology incentive programme.
“During the summit, we will increase awareness of innovation and new digital technologies especially to the existing black industrialists and grassroots innovators through collaboration with different economic actors,” adds Gina.
She says that the dtic will also be launching the Khoebo Innovation Promotion Programme (KIPP) during the Summit 2020.
“We have partnered with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) on the KIPP and implementation of the programme throughout the country will happen in line with the rural and township economic revitalisation focus of government. Support for grassroots innovators who wish to apply will be provided during the launch,” she said.
The KIPP will have two sub-schemes. Firstly, the Small Medium Enterprise Growth Scheme, which is looking at enterprises already in existence and are looking to scale, up and penetrate new markets. Secondly, the Grassroots Innovation Funding Scheme (GIFS), where the focus will be on grassroots innovators that are at start-up phase or trading in a small scale.
More information will be available on the official website https://innovationsummit.co.za as from 15 September 2020.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
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