South Africa needs to become the new source of digital technology innovation.
That’s the word from Professor Barry Dwolatzky of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), who will present the keynote address at 2014 Wired Women Conference, talking about digital technology innovation in South Africa and across Africa.
Prof Dwolatzky says that economic and social activity in the 21st Ccntury is increasingly underpinned by digital technology, but questions where this technology came from?
“South Africa and Africa need to become a source of digital technology innovation. If Africa is to become a major world economic force in the coming century, Africans cannot simply be users of other people’s technology. We need to define a strategy that will see Africa emerge as a leading source of digital technology innovation.”
He adds that, in the 21st century, a great deal of digital technology innovation will happen in what is commonly known today as “technology hubs”. “These are ideal spaces in which to grow digital skills and promote digital innovation. It is in this single environment that participants will ideate; learn; interact and incubate start-ups.”
There has been a rapid emergence of technology hubs and incubators throughout Africa. Loosely defined, a hub is a set of spaces that encourages innovation, learning and collaboration. Examples include BongoHive in Zambia, iHub in Kenya, Outbox in Uganda, iLab in Liberia, and more recently, Tshimologong, in Johannesburg.
“I decided that Johannesburg had to play a role and formed the Tshimologong Precinct together with the University of the Witwatersrand. Through hubs like this we move from making an impact on hundreds of people to thousands. It is ideally geared towards real and life-changing skills development and transfer.”
The WiredWomen Conference aims to uncover the key issues driving women in technology today, while providing a supportive, dynamic environment that puts delegates directly in touch with leading innovators, business leaders and inspirational people.