Interim CEO: The Innovation Hub
Event: GAP Winners Announcements
Date: 29 February 2024
Venue: Physical and Virtual
It is with great pleasure to welcome you all to our 13th annual Gauteng Accelerator Programme Innovation Competition awards ceremony. Today we are not only celebrating winners but we are also celebrating 13 years of milestones that sums-up the transformation of Gauteng Accelerator Programme since its inception and the innovation boost of the companies that we have impacted in the past 13 years. We are very honored that you have accepted our invitation and taken the time to join us physically and also virtually . We are gathered once again to celebrate innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs who are working on novel technologies and services intended to accelerate the efficiency of government and the private sector.
The GAP Innovation competition is one of the initiatives proposed in the Gauteng Innovation Strategy to stimulate interest in innovation within targeted sectors and to improve service delivery of public and private sectors. It is through the innovations coming from this programme that we are able to contribute to the improvement of Infrastructure, health care sector, transport and community safety and increase competitiveness of our province.
Over the years The Innovation Hub as well as our key partners, Technology Innovation Agency , Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta Georgia, have managed to over 23,4 million in seed funding for the Innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs that are ready to take on the world and bring about change for the benefit of our people.
This event today , is the culmination of a year-long programme in which we sought out the best Innovations in the GAP ICT, Medical, Bioeconomy, Green Economy and Township economy. It is a special day and I would like to welcome Member of parliament , our MEC, Our GGDA and TIHMC Board Members ,all the finalists, Independent panel of judges, our longstanding partners Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta Georgia connecting virtually and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and all the guests to this prestigious event.
Distinguished Guests
Since inception in 2011, the five categories of GAP attracted more than 2000 entries and invested over R23,4 million in seed funding and incubation support to over 150 start-ups. This tells us that there are even more ideas and innovations currently being conceptualized all over Gauteng. This makes us very excited as that the task of The Innovation Hub will continue to be fulfilled. The task of The Innovation Hub being to create a knowledge economy wherein the economic drivers of the province are a diversification of traditional resource- based industry, with the primary objective being increased human capital investment and development of our country
The value in this competition is not only about the prize money. All the participants for this Competition see value in the developmental aspects of the Competition and those that participate indicate that It is not all about winning but about the value derived from assistance in business plan development, skills development, networking, and mentorship that the programme provides for the growth of their businesses.
I thank you for joining us today and I wish all the finalists well, remember even if you do not win today, the fact that you have come this far in this competition means that there is room for your innovations to be cultivated and made impactful in society. Go out there and win.
Ngiyabulela
Ke a Leboga
Thank you
