Rinchi
TechInAfrica – The pan-African telecommunications provider group, Liquid Telecom, has announced its official partnership for the 2019 Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Africa.
Since its inception in 2016, the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) has dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs around the globe to be innovative with technology. This year’s challenge will be held in five continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and America (the US and Canada). With Liquid Telecom being an official partner for the event challenge, it helps to select African entrepreneurs and innovators to partake in the challenge.
There are four main categories of this year’s IIC with a strong focus on identifying solutions to prepare people embracing the automation era. The categories include technology access, financial inclusion, skills development and opportunity matching, as well as income growth and job creation. Liquid Telecom will encourage African tech startups to participate in the various challenge. They will award the winning startups with a total of S1.4 million and $250K to each of the four winning organizations.
Ben Roberts, Group Chief Technology and Innovation Challenge at Liquid Telecom, said: “Liquid Telecom is looking forward to working with MIT on delivering the IIC in Africa as it is aligned with our mission to support innovation, using digital technology, across the continent. As an African company, greater inclusion in both the creation and application of technology is fundamental to Liquid Telecom’s DNA. We are happy to help IIC reach more entrepreneurs and innovators across the continent.”
According to Devin Cook, IIC’s Executive Producer, the initiative helps to create high-tech jobs and skills training that encourage people to fully embrace the digital age and be part of it.
“Our vision is an economy that works for all. To achieve this, the IIC serves as a catalyst to accelerate entrepreneurs who are already making our vision a reality. In addition, the challenge wants to drive a solutions-oriented conversation about the future of work,” Cook added.
The registration for the challenge is already open until May 9th, 2019. Regional finalists will be announced on July 23rd. The challenge will be concluded with a Global Grand Prize Gala at MIT on November 21st, 2019.
For further information about MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC), please visit https://www.mitinclusiveinnovation.com/
Source: technomag.co.zw
