the dti and LEDET to host Inaugural Grassroots Innovation Workshop |
| The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department (LEDET) will host the inaugural Grassroots Innovation Workshop from 5-6 March 2019 at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.
The hosting of the Workshop results from an exercise that was previously undertaken by the dti to search for grassroots innovators in rural and township areas and to establish accessibility to the dti’s innovation support instruments by underserviced citizens in line with government’s drive to revitalise township and rural economies. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies explains that the exercise had revealed that there was valuable knowledge and experience that is generated by grassroots innovators in townships and rural areas, where there was mainly a shortage of infrastructure and services. “To add value to this critical knowledge, we have resolved to engage these innovators through a series of workshops set up to form partnerships and allow our officials to gain better understanding on the needs of grassroots innovators so as to enable for an adjustment of existing instruments to meet their needs,” says Davies. Davies adds that Grassroots Innovation Workshops will be rolled out to at least four rural provinces, with Limpopo being the initial host venue. “It is anticipated that these workshops will place us in best position to cast our focus on the informal sector of doing business, which has generally been neglected. We are expecting to unearth technologies from underdeveloped communities, to create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation and focused technology development and innovative thinking at grassroots levels,” he says. The Event is to take place as follows: ENQUIRIES Or Zaid Kalla |
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