Innovation fever to hit Botswana

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) in a joint collaborative effort with the Government of Botswana (GoB) represented by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) today announced that the next Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) event will be held in Gaborone, Botswana in June 2016. The decision to host IPA in Botswana received the highest endorsement from H.E. President Ian Khama.
This year’s event with its “Made in Africa” theme promises to be ground-breaking, extending beyond the Awards ceremony. AIF is offering several avenues of opportunity for local, national, regional and international growth and exposure to Africa’s next cadre of innovators. The event will provide an unprecedented platform for African innovators and innovation enablers to network, share knowledge, explore business opportunities and boost collaboration.
“Hosting IPA 2016 and celebrating African ingenuity in Gaborone will afford Botswana an opportunity to showcase its commitment to putting innovation at the centre of its development strategy,” said the Botswana Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Hon Nonofo Molefhi. He added, “We are greatly honoured to have been selected to host IPA 2016 and look forward to showcasing the positive strides Botswana and indeed Africa is making in the innovation landscape.”
The theme for this year’s event is “Made in Africa”, reflecting the role of innovation, economic growth and the commercialisation of local innovation.
Commented Walter Fust, AIF Chairman of the Board, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Government of Botswana in celebrating African ingenuity. With its many inspiring and success stories, Botswana is an excellent choice to host the 5th edition of IPA to catalyse the innovation spirit. Made in Africa heralds a message of enterprise and prosperity for African innovators, and we encourage more Africans, especially young people and women to catalyse transformation through innovation, not only in their lives, but for the broader community and their respective economies.”