With West Africa turning into technology innovation hub, we look at Ten of the top Tech Innovation Events your can attend in West African this year or in the near future.
Africa has increased its technology innovation events and West African Countries have not been left out in this development. This highlights Africa’s capabilities in providing the perfect opportunity to showcase services and products, sparking future growth. So with West Africa turning into technology innovation hub, we look at Ten of the top Tech Innovation Events your can attend in West African this year or in the near future.
1. AFRICA TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT:
Africa Technology Summit (ATS) is fast becoming the marquee technology event on the continent. Following the successful inaugural event in Ghana last year, ATS is proud to make its entry into the city referred to as Africa’s Silicon Valley: Lagos.
Pulling in the brightest minds in the field, and spanning across two days, ATS encourages attendees to interact and discuss using technology to achieve Africa’s goals. We're bringing together a who’s-who of all parts of the African technology ecosystem, including telcos, banks, the usual multinational tech giants for discussion, deal making and collaboration opportunities. All these major players will be explaining their Africa strategies, and sharing what's next for them on the continent.
Speakers include some of the biggest names in the tech and mobile space, including representatives from Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Vodacom and MTN, as well as a range of African entrepreneurs young and old.
Topics covered include:
- Comparing Tech Landscapes Across Regions,
- Building the Infrastructure to Support Africa's Ambitions,
- Leaders In Fintech, Developments in Agritech,
- Corporate Venture Capitalism, and Investing in African Tech.
The last year event was held Tuesday, 6 December, 2016 at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. This year's own may take place soon. You can't afford to miss.
For more info visit: http://www.africatechsummit.com
2. 4G LTE LAUNCHED IN BENIN REPUBLIC:
4G LTE service has been rolled out in Benin Republic by Benin Telecoms as announced at event attended by the country’s president, Yayi Boni.With this development, Benin has become the fourth country in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) where LTE would be rolled out. Other countries where the service is available are Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Over the last three years, MTN Benin and Etisalat Benin have been experimenting with 3G but at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Benin Telecoms, Djalil Assouma said many citizens will benefit from the service. He said: “LTE will allow farmers in remote locations to sell products all over the world, entrepreneurs and students will be able to create online businesses and sell services from home, and young artists and music lovers can download a song in under 1 second, or 1 hour of video in under 1 minute.”
Need more info? Check http://innovation-village.com/4g-lte-launched-in-benin-republic/
3. OPEN DATA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA:
The 2017 Africa Open Data Conference in Accra, Ghana is set to attract over 600 delegates drawn from all over Africa and the world at large. This auspicious event will push the leadership role of the private sector in supplying, using, and demanding open data; bring together brilliant innovators and visionaries to grow their networks,
This event will businesses hone their success, and connect with sources of support; and introduce investors and donors to an expanding sector that seeks and supplies open data to achieve development goals in Africa and across the globe: Gender, Health, Energy, Extractives, Education, Economic Growth, Agriculture & Nutrition, SDGs.
Do you want to know more? click http://akvo.org/blog/africa-open-data-conference-2017/
4. INNOVATION PRIZE FOR AFRICA EVENT (IPA) :
Africa Innovation Foundation (AIF), with its vision to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalyzing the innovation spirit in Africa, has over the years offered avenues of opportunity, growth and exposure to Africa’s next generation of innovators. The IPA is a landmark program of the AIF which has since its inception attracted more than 6000 innovators from 52 African countries, making it a truly Pan-African initiative.
As it celebrates its 6th year milestone with the theme, “African Innovation: Investing in Prosperity”, IPA 2017 promised to provide an unprecedented platform for African innovators and innovation enablers to network, share knowledge, explore business opportunities and boost collaboration.
Next stop: Who will join the club of the top African innovators? Look out for the announcement of the 10 IPA 2017 nominees.
For more information, check out https://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org
5. PITCH AGRIHACK BOOTCAMP AND PITCHING EVENT:
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN), Agribusiness TV, ProHaus Group (USA) and innovation spaces including Orange Fab (Côte d'Ivoire), Wennovation (Nigeria), EcoHub (Togo), Etrilabs (Benin), Suguba (Mali), CTIC Dakar (Senegal), CIPMEN (Niger), Woelab (Togo) and Jokkolab (Afrique), is launching the Pitch AgriHack West Africa 2017, in the framework of its AgriHack Talent Programme . This edition follows the successful organisation of the pilot edition Pitch AgriHack 2016.
Pitch AgriHack West Africa 2017 is open for young ICT start-ups from the West African region offering services to the agriculture sector. It is to take place on Sunday, 03 September 2017 - Friday, 08 September 2017.
To know more about this event and it's upcoming ones check: http://www.agrihackwestafrica.org
6. ICAO REMOTELY PILOTED Aircraft SYSTEMS (RPAS) SYMPOSIUM- AFRICA AND INDIAN OCEAN (RPAS AFI 2017):
The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Symposium with the theme Remotely piloted aviation in Africa: sharing experiences and challenges was held from 17 to 18 July 2017 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, hosted by the Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation Sector), provided a unique opportunity for States, international organizations and stakeholders to share experiences in addressing RPAS operations across the African continent and Indian Ocean.
This event focuses on challenges to be overcomed and benefits to be obtained, identifying how existing rules need to evolve to facilitate entrance of the RPAS community into the civil aviation system, examining alignment between ongoing RPAS development and supporting regulatory provisions as well as innovations made technologically.
Click https://www.icao.int/Meetings/RPAS2017 for more info.
7. THE 3RD GHANA ECOMMERCE EXHIBITION:
It took place at the plush Alisa Hotel in October. .Though the venue may probably changed this year. It gathers companies and Professionals from Ghana’s burgeoning eCommerce Industry.
The two-day eCommerce fair under the theme, “ Transforming Ghana’s Online Businesses through Technology, Innovation & Opportunity” provide exhibitors the platform to sign on new businesses and clients, gain market exposure and launch new e-commerce and electronic financial transaction products.
For more info check: http://www.ghecommerceexpo.com
8. AFRILABS ANNUAL GATHERING:
Join the largest gathering of innovations hubs in Africa by attending this annual event if you want to learn more about innovative, creative nature of Africans in the area of technology. Last year it was held on the 25th through to the 27th October 2016 at Alliance Francais, Casely Hayford Road, Accra. It would be taking place soon.
The 2015 entries came from over 21 countries and the winners on the night came from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania and Togo.
Appsafrica.com Innovation Awards Winners 2015:
- Disruptive Innovation - Opera’s Sponsored Web Pass (Nigeria)
- Mobile Innovation – Bookly (South Africa)
- Non Data Mobile Innovation – GeoPoll (Kenya/USA)
- African App - Tuluntulu (South Africa)
- Fintech - VCpay (South Africa)
- Health – GiftedMom (Cameroon)
- Educational - mPaper (Tanzania)
- Social Impact Award - codeX (South Africa)
- Entertainment - Gamsole (Nigeria)
- Women In Tech - Emefa Kpegba - OMobileFunding (Togo)
Andrew Fassnidge Director at Appsafrica.com said: “Our mission is always to promote and honour the fantastic innovation across the mobile and tech ecosystem in Africa. We had diverse entries from 21 countries and both the finalists and winners are a testament to how technology is being used to disrupt business models, empower people and drive positive social impact across the continent. The contribution women are making in technology in Africa is also very evident and important in empowering the next generation. Congratulations to all of the 2015 winners and thank you to all of the judges, sponsors, media partners and supporting innovation hubs across Africa.”
The awards party in Cape Town was a great evening of celebration and networking bringing together the mobile and tech community, enterprise, media, investors and innovators from across Africa.
Appsafrica.com is a leading pan-African technology site, dedicated to delivering the latest news on mobile, tech, innovations and start-ups. Its team of writers across Africa review the latest innovations, events, companies and people behind them, giving their readers the complete view of what's happening on the rapidly expanding African tech scene. The Appsafrica.com Innovation Awards 2015, celebrate the best mobile and tech innovations in Africa.
For more information on the appsafrica.com Innovation Awards, contact Andrew Fassnidge
Appsafrica.com Tel: SA +27 (0) 63 525 7651 / UK+44 (0)785 269 3897 /
9. GE LAGOS GARAGE:
The fourth edition of the GE Lagos Garage advanced manufacturing and skills training program for entrepreneurs is scheduled to take off in Lagos, Nigeria on the 4th of September, 2017.
The “GE Lagos Garage” is an immersive, four-week program dedicated to accelerating the impact of Nigeria’s most promising entrepreneurs, especially in advanced manufacturing.
The program is designed for hardware entrepreneurs that have an existing product or idea and want to learn how to apply cutting-edge manufacturing technology like 3D printing to their product development processes.
GE created the Garages program in 2012 to reinvigorate America’s interest in invention, innovation, and manufacturing. In 2014, Garages went global with four weeks of intensive workshops at GE’s offices in Lagos, Nigeria, using the latest in advanced manufacturing technologies. 3D printers, CNC mills, and laser cutters.
In December 2016, GE Nigeria launched a permanent installation of the Lagos Garage, a hub for training, strategy development, advanced manufacturing-based innovation and collaboration. So far, four cohorts of 95 entrepreneurs have gone through the program. During this period, several viable micro and small business enterprises have been birthed and are thriving as a result of training and support received during the Garage training program.
During this iteration of the Garage program, selected participants will be granted access to a variety of world-class instructors, investors, technical experts and partners, and learn how to create innovative products using front-line manufacturing technology and rapid prototyping. They will also learn to apply the core principles of design thinking, product development, finance, marketing, sales, and customer acquisition in real-time to their ventures.
Finally, the Garage will also provide participants with unfettered access to an expanding network of dedicated mentors and alumni to support them in starting and scaling their companies, and in building a culture of collaboration and innovation to bring their most innovative ideas to life.
Check: http://www.hotnigerianjobs.com/hotjobs/125863/2017-ge-nigeria-summer-lagos-garage-skills-trainin.html
10. WACREN CONFERENCE:
Held at the Hotel Novotel, Dakar, the conference is preceeded by a series of workshops promoting e-Infrastructure development and open science in Africa.
AAI Workshop: Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure Workshop
Open Science Workshop: Jointly organized by Sci-GaIA, TANDEM and MAGIC projects.
The main theme of the conference is: “Enabling Virtual Research and Education Communities”, with the following sub-themes:
- Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure (AAI) and Mobility
- NREN Business and Governance Models
- Innovation in R&E Networks
- Network Design and Operation
- Online Teaching and Learning
- Shared Experiences, Best Practices and Collaboration...
The programme include sessions on the thematic areas related to enabling virtual R&E communities. Talks will focus on NREN business and advocacy, teaching and learning, identity management and technology.
Please visit WACREN for more information on this year's events coming up soon.
Click on: http://www.wacren.net for more information.
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