Staff Writer
Zimbabwe is one of the six countries in Africa that will host an Innovation Acceleration Centre with assistance from International Telecommunication Union.
There are 17 Innovation Acceleration Centres worldwide and out of those, six are based in Africa wherein Zimbabwe is a recipient.
This is a result of the Digital Innovation Profile (DIP) project, by ITU and Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe’s commitment to nurturing an innovation-centric ecosystem, poised for sustainability and growth.
The Innovation Acceleration hub is like a centre of excellence which will be built in Zimbabwe with assistance of the ITU to create an environment where innovation can take place to promote acceleration of innovation.
Innovation cuts across sectors, it can be innovation to come up with solutions in agriculture, manufacturing or mining.
In a speech by POTRAZ Director General Dr Gift Machengete read on his behalf by Alfred Marisa – POTRAZ Deputy Director General, he said the Innovation Acceleration centre places Zimbabwe on the global map as a forerunner in harnessing technology for socio-economic advancement.
“This Centre is envisaged to be a hub of technological advancement and entrepreneurship, made possible by the generous sponsorship and international recognition bestowed upon us by the ITU, following the Digital Innovation Profiling exercise,” Dr Machengete said.
“As we align with international best practices and invest in research and development, our aim is not just to keep pace with the global digital economy but to set a benchmark for it. “Our new department at POTRAZ dedicated to Research and Development reflects our forward-thinking approach aimed at ensuring that the country is catapulted to the forefront of this technological evolution.”
Dr Machengete paid homage to stakeholders who participated and continue to participate in the Digital Innovation Profiling program.
“Our collective effort will certainly go a long way in shaping a resilient and digitally empowered Zimbabwe.
“In the same breath, I would like to most-graciously thank the ITU for all their support and guidance as we journey towards digital emancipation and excellence,” he said.
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