Radical thinkers unite to spur innovation revolution
This year's Innovation Summit aims to ignite Africa's and South Africa’s inventive spirit
over three days of inspiration, interaction and collaboration.
The summit, in late August in Johannesburg, will bring together a high-powered panel of
local and international inventors, entrepreneurs and left-field thinkers to apply their
minds to reversing South Africa's innovation slide.
Home-grown innovation is crucial to solving our economic and social problems and
bolstering our international reputation, but SA has fallen 16 places on the Global
Innovation Index over the past three years, from 43 to 59. There are currently no subSaharan African countries in the top 50.
The summit intends to address this challenge by providing a collaborative space where
various role-players from business, government, academia and civil society can discuss,
share their knowledge and experience and explore radical ideas and unorthodox
methodologies.
The event will present a CEO in-depth panel discussion on leading innovation and
creating Africa’s competitive edge. Various theme based panel discussions,
presentations, workshops, case studies, connectworking and other opportunities are
designed to facilitate close interaction among delegates and session leaders.
A wide range of issues will be explored, including the need for regional and national
innovation systems, the latest theories and research on innovation and creativity, the
role of innovative leadership, new business model strategies, new technologies, tools
and techniques, funding and the importance of the senses to the creative process.
Among those taking part will be our lead sponsor’s Eskom MD for resources and
strategy, Dr Steve Lennon, looking at creating renewable capacity, internationally
innovation leadership expert, Dan Buchner, future studies guru Prof Philip Spies;
innovation systems specialist, Dr Shawn Cunningham; investor and entrepreneur in
Africa, York Zucchi; the head of Technology Transfer and Innovation at Vaal University of
Technology, Prof Deon de Beer, internationally acclaimed designers and founders of
Design with Africa, Mugendi M’Raath and Roelf Mulder, , IDC head of Green Industries,
Rentia van Tonder , moving from single firm interventions to systemic interventions by
Mrs. Adrie El Mohamadi from the CSIR and Explosive New Trends Making Africa a World
of Possibilities by Chris Kanyane, Contributing Editor at Voices.News24.com - often
regarded by peers as Curator of Ancient Africa and Ancient Wisdom.
Lead summit sponsor, Eskom says: “Growing the economy and improving the quality of
life of the people of South Africa are goals we all strive for and innovation is key to
achieving these goals ”, said Dr Steve Lennon, Group Executive of Eskom Sustainability.
“That is why Eskom is proud to be the lead sponsor of the Innovation Summit”.
The Innovation Lab, which had a hugely successful debut at last year’s event, will again
be at the heart of the creative exchange.
This year, our Lab partner is one of SA’s leading innovation companies, namely SASOL.
The Lab is curated by top South African brand consultants, and pioneers in contextual
thinking.
One of Lab’s most important functions will be match-making entrepreneurs and
inventors with technology providers, funders and government agencies, while providing
delegates with real-time insights into the nitty-gritty of the innovation process.
The Lab’s architecture will demonstrate new ideas in sustainable design using organic
and recycled materials to create an inviting space in which artefacts, installation art,
architecture, design and the latest high tech inventions will all play a part in stimulating
ideas and encouraging collaboration.
This year’s summit is taking active steps to recruit young South Africans to the
innovation cause through a series of pre-summit activities including lab sessions and
workshops for youth groups.
The youth sessions will be facilitated by the multi-talented Peter Greenwall,
entrepreneurial mentor, entertainer and engineer, and Lydia Zingoni, founder and
director of Teenentrepreneur.
In line with its commitment to inclusivity, the summit is inviting the public to experience
the lab first-hand on its open day on 28 August. A dedicated African focused work
stream will be broadcasted via a live feed to a number of African capitals.
The summit’s organising partners, Sense2Sense and The Research Institute for
Innovation & Sustainability (RIIS) are doing all in their power to make the event
environmentally sustainable. The Summit has been registered as a carbon neutral
project under the Carbon Protocol of South Africa. The Summit is collaborating with
Food and Trees for Africa and R100 of each delegate’s fee will go towards the carbon
reduction project, the Bamboo Project. The bamboo plants will be planted at the Blus
Disa Project in Lawley, South of Johannesburg. The Blue Disa Project will directly impact
over 200 families when operating at full capacity. This energy and food cropping project
is currently providing 80 people with work. A full carbon audit will be done after the
event.
Innovation heavyweights IDC, SPII, The Innovation Hub, Mail&Guardian, Management
Today and African Entrepreneur are endorsing through sponsorship and knowledge
share.
The 5th Innovation Summit runs from 29 to 30 August at The Forum on the Dimension
Data Campus in Bryanston. Pre-summit workshops and a public open day will be held on
28 August. Visit innovationsummit.co.za to find out more and register.
For more information contact the Innovation Summit Team at
[email protected] or on 073 257 8178 or visit our website
www.innovationsummit.co.za.
- ends