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Media Release Innovation to the top … of mount Kilimanjaro Embargo, 12:00, Friday 12 September 2007 Daily live video, voice streaming, and hourly GPS (Global Positioning System) plotting through satellite connectivity has been made possible, for quadriplegic Bern Goosen's mount Kilimanjaro expedition in October 2007, by resident companies on The Innovation Hub precinct. Kreon Technology is project managing The Innovation Hub's involvement, and Laipac, Luuk, and MMB Service Providers are providing the technology and devices that will facilitate access by the public to the daily progress of the expedition. Two of The Innovation Hub's product partners, Flexopower and Panasonic who are respectively providing the enviro-friendly portable power SolarPouch, and the 'tough book' (laptop) and video camera, are also part of the project. The ripple effect of the collaboration gives meaning to the essence of a true science park … that of promoting a culture of innovation. The technology will enable the public to send messages and support during the expedition. Smses sent to 35500 within South Africa will be charged to the sender's account at R3 per sms. Titled 'innovation to the top', this project embraces more than communications technology on The Innovation Hub precinct. Icexpress, a resident company that specialises in progressive prosthetics development, is providing sponsorship and a prosthesis that will enable a KwaZulu Natal shark victim amputee's attempt of the summit alongside Goosen. Paul Bisogno, The Innovation Hub's Marketing, Business Development and Value-Added Services Manager, says that this project is another example of The Innovation Hub's cluster of pioneers, entrepreneurs, and free thinking people - people who are challenged and inspired by breaking new ground through technological innovation and collaboration. Bisogno will be representing these resident companies and The Innovation Hub on the expedition. The cluster services and products provided by Kreon's engineering management services, and Laipac's tracking and monitoring device, Luuk's web-based technology applications, and MMB's YELLOW.TVTM digital media technology, puts this Kilimanjaro expedition literally and figuratively 'on the map'. A Gauteng Provincial Government initiative implemented through its commercial agency Blue IQ Investment Holdings, The Innovation Hub's mandate includes supporting entrepreneurial SMEs to grow their impact on the economy. During the development of The Innovation Hub as a Science Park the emphasis has been on creating a balance between the provision of infrastructure (park development and core facilities) and value-adding services. The latter includes substantive and meaningful internal and external networking and relationships. This 'innovation to the top' project is evidence of those value-added services and is aligned with the expedition intent of raising awareness about disabled people 'climbing mountains' with able bodied people. While another of the primary aims of the 2007 expedition is to be accredited by the World Record Academy and in the Guinness Book of Records, the expedition is also about personal growth. The end of each day will culminate in group discussions with the participants who include a journalist, a camera crew, sponsors, 'corporates', friends, and a team of porters. In addition to being a qualified financial and tax consultant, Goosen is also a motivational speaker. He says that sometimes 'mountains' are in our mind - true triumph is about trying, regardless of the result. More information on his experiences and activities can be found on his Get Motivated website. The 2007 'Get Motivated' expedition follows Goosen's world record in 2004 when he became the first wheelchair bound quadriplegic to climb to the highest point in Africa…Uhuru on mount Kilimanjaro. Although he only reached Gilman's, the second highest Kilimanjaro point, during his second attempt with Carte Blanche in 2005, true to form he said during that expedition "…in life, things never end up the way you want them to, so you have to adjust things". The first group leaves South Africa with Goosen, his team and the amputee, on 5 October to begin the summit on 7 October. The second group will depart on 8 October to join the first group. All things being equal, the entire group will be back in South Africa by 20 October. The promotion of the expedition to 73 countries via the members of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), is being facilitated through The Innovation's Hub hosting of the IASP's 2008 World Conference and its related website. This collaboration is also evidence of entrepreneurship as a key tool in knowledge economies, one of the sub-themes of the IASP World Conference 2008. From 9 to 19 October 2007 the expedition's daily live video can be accessed via the 'innovation to the top' logo on the home pages of the IASP 2008 Conference and The Innovation Hub's websites, www.iasp2008sa.com and www.theinnovationhub.com. More information on the expedition can be found on www.getmotivated.co.za. Ends Media enquiries:
Carol o'Brien, carol@ibstrat.co.za, 082 955 6205
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