The Innovation Hub showcased at FUTUREX

The Innovation Hub had a hugely successful show as an exhibitor at Futurex 2004, where its high-tech stand and precinct model drew a lot of attention.

The Innovation Hub and Exhibitions for Africa partnered recently at Futurex 2004 to provide unique value exclusively to members of the Hub's INNOV8 high-tech and knowledge-intensive community network. As a result of the partnership, Futurex, which was held between 18 and 21 May at the Sandton Convention Centre, made available specially priced exhibition options for those members of the community who wished to exhibit at this inaugural event.

Previously known as Computer Faire, Futurex followed the world-wide move towards convergence with the integration of Tel.com Africa, Africa's premier International Telecommunication exhibition, into the original IT exhibition to form a single, unified and definitive Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event.

As an exhibitor, The Innovation Hub had a hugely successful show. Our high-tech stand and precinct model attracted inordinate attention. These elements, together with the attention that the development on the Hub itself generating, served to draw the crowds, making our 12m2 stand seem tiny at times!

The main interest from visitors to the stand focused on the cutting-edge facilities and urban design that the Hub is developing to create Africa's first internationally-accredited Science Park, and on the unique value-added services that are being put into place to differentiate the Hub precinct from all other pure office park developments in South Africa.

As an initiative designed specifically to enhance the innovative and growth capacity of high-tech companies, the Hub is putting in place a range of unique world-class business development services for resident companies that will contribute to their sustainability over the long-term. One such aspect is the provision of "five star" value-added support, including regular training, coaching and mentoring activities that cover all aspects of starting and managing a high-growth business.

Some of the other value-added initiatives already on offer from the Hub include the INNOV8 high-tech community initiative; the Know-How Network, comprising key business services and skills to support entrepreneurs and innovators; Pub@Hub business networking events; the P•O•W•E•R Breakfast series; and the SevN Days programme of interactive seminars business seminars, which are being presented in conjunction with FuTioN, one of the Hub's Knowledge Partners.

Another initiative unique to the Hub is the CoachLab^TM Leadership Programme, launched as a way of fast tracking the development of world-class human resources for the local high-tech sector. The Innovation Hub's business incubation programme is designed to serve the needs of a society that requires entrepreneurs and job-creators, and is developing the business leaders of tomorrow by providing an enabling environment where the growth of high-tech start-ups from the information and communications technology, biosciences, electronics and advanced materials and manufacturing sectors are fast tracked.

Participation at Futurex provided The Innovation Hub with a valuable opportunity to showcase all of these aspects, and to field questions from future potential participants in all Hub programmes and activities.

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