Over 200 top policy makers, developers, entrepreneurs and private enterprises will converge in Nairobi next week for the second Open Innovation Africa Summit (OIAS).
The three-day event that aims at empowering African leaders to spur technological innovation within their own local context is expected to stimulate discussions over the role of entrepreneurship, innovation and ICTs in Africa.
The delegates will explore transformative innovations necessary to address varied challenges facing Africa today, OIAS said.
“We want that ‘switch’ to click in the minds of the policy-makers, innovators and business leaders who can envision change and make it happen,” says Valerie D’Costa, Program Manager of infoDev.
Jussi Hinkkanen, Nokia’s Vice President of Corporate Relations and Business Environment for the Middle East and Africa said without open innovation enabling business environment and seamless collaboration, creation of new innovative enterprises and locally relevant solutions becomes incredibly challenging.
“This event underscores that Nokia and infoDev believe in the power of partnerships and that Africa is ready for an entrepreneurial revolution,” said Hinkkanen.
This year’s OIAS is organised by Nokia, CapGemini and infoDev, a technology, entrepreneurship and innovation program in the World Bank.
Nokia’s Delia Sieff told HumanIPO, the summit, themed “Leadership in Innovation,” would be held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi from Monday to Wednesday next week at Safari Park Hotel.
Delia said delegates from 21 different countries are expected to attend the conference from across Africa, US, China, Nepal and Vietnam.
Africa has recently emerged as an active innovator in areas of financial inclusion and mobile app development.
