Pretoria – Thursday, 26 October 2023-The Interim CEO of The Innovation Hub, Mr Mothibedi Matshele with a delegation comprising of The Innovation Hub Board Member, The Innovation Hub’s Executives, Stakeholders from academia and Research institutions as well as the entrepreneurs incubated in the TIH Enterprise Development Programme welcomed 20 officials from Shenzhen Province.
Shenzhen city, a province known for producing and housing tech start-ups such as Huawei, Tencent and BYD explored areas of collaboration on the various TIH programmes and engaged the entrepreneurs incubated at The Innovation Hub Enterprise Development Programmes to explore investment opportunities and to form collaborations with the aim to increase innovation capabilities to solve global challenges. Entrepreneurs such as Buboo Innovation, CXC Biotech and Learn Base incubated at the Enterprise Development Programme presented their innovation solutions/products to the delegation.
Shenzhen was turned into the country’s special economic zone, and it has since transformed from a small backward border town into a modern and international metropolis focusing more on accelerating advanced manufacturing, technology innovation centre and possessing world class R&D investment intensity and hence it has claimed to be the fourth busiest port in the world.
“South Africa is one of the main economies on the African continent and has often been said to be the gateway to Africa. This opportunity provided a platform to match Shenzhen tech startups with entrepreneurs from The Innovation Hub to assist in bringing the desirable investment to the Gauteng Province, tech start-ups and the programmes of The Innovation Hub.
“The collaboration with Shenzhen City will assist TIH to attract investment opportunities to solve some of our most critical challenges and to increase innovation capabilities for the province which will ignite the TIH strategic thrust of being a leading innovation agency that houses global competitive tech start-ups that produce globally competitive products and services. More importantly, this will enforce TIH cross-border tech and innovation programme that provides soft landing opportunities and market access for tech-start-ups based in Shenzhen and Gauteng Province,” said Mothibedi Matshele, Interim CEO of The Innovation Hub.
Our delegation is looking for investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical and health sectors, renewable energy, and battery manufacturing, we are looking forward to formalising the MoU with The Innovation Hub and most importantly for our entrepreneurs to collaborate with the Shenzhen entrepreneurs”- Mr Huang Yikun, Chairman of Shenzhen Overseas Exchange Association
Amongst the South African dignitaries that presented was Professor Kenneth Ozoemena, Research Professor and SARCHI Chair from the University of the Witwatersrand. Following the visit, the collaboration will be strengthened and formalised through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. To conclude, the delegation, on behalf of the Shenzhen delegation, Mr Huang Yikun invited The Innovation Hub to visit Shenzhen.
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For media queries and more information, please contact:
Linah Nematandani – Acting General Manager: Marketing and Communications
Email: lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com
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About The Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA). As the innovation agency of the Gauteng province, it manages Africa's first internationally accredited Science and Technology Park of the same name. It is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). Strategically located in Tshwane, South Africa's executive capital in the 'smart' province of Gauteng, The Innovation Hub implements initiatives identified in the Gauteng Innovation Strategy and Green Economy strategy to advance the province's economic development and growth through innovation. The Innovation Hub has created unique spaces in Tshwane and the rest of the Gauteng province for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists to meet, network and prosper.
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