Ericsson will be hosting “Ericsson AHUB ” an innovation station in partnership with Informa at AfricaCom 2015, Cape Town, 17-19 November. This is in a quest to drive the Networked society in Africa through innovation.
The innovation station will bring together Africaās leading entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and angel investor communities to encourage investment and showcase talent in the technology sector. The new station responds to the mobile penetration in Africa has led to an emergence of innovations and presents significant opportunities for both the private and public sectors.
Ericsson aims at supporting innovation globally and locally with a number of initiatives, including the Ericsson Innovation Awards. Also, the company hopes Ericsson AHUB will create a platform that will try and fill the gap that exists between innovation and fundingĀ .
With the absence of conventional structures to provide young people with access to sponsorship opportunities, and in getting start-ups off the ground, the Ericsson AHUB will help create a platform to help tech-startups present their solutions to a range of investors.
Innovative companies grow where there are ecosystems in place, as this is what most guarantees a return on investment. Through the innovation station, Ericsson is playing a part in creating an environment conducive to innovation that will address specific African challenges.
According to the latest EricssonĀ Mobility Report, the total number of mobile subscriptions in Q1 2015 was around 910 million for all of Africa, including 21 million new subscriptions. The increase in mobile ownership has led to the rise of innovative solutions in different sectors, from education to transportation, from healthcare to farming. The Ericsson AHUB aims to ensure that innovative ideas from the region are recognized and supported for the better growth of the economy.
