World Bank funds innovation project to assist inventors in commercialisation process
16 June 2004
News
The World Bank has invested $400 000 towards a Web-based project that is designed to accelerate the process of entrepreneurs or inventors in the ICT and electronic sectors in bringing their products to market. The project is a joint initiative between the BTI (Bodibeng Technology Incubator) and the Durban-based ISC (KwaZulu-Natal Innovation Support Centre).
Séan Achim, business development manager at the ISC, says there is an urgent need for the dissemination of information relating to the incubation process that start-up enterprises can use to assist them in their commercialisation endeavours. "Very few entrepreneurs with sound product ideas are aware that there are organisations such as the ISC and BTI who have been charged with the task of assisting in this process. We believe that if it is properly conducted we can expect a flood of innovators to knock on our doors."
Achim says that the World Bank funding will be used to establish a Web portal that will address the process. Its mission will be to try to stimulate innovators and start up enterprises to follow a 'blueprint' methodology that can guide them through the various stages of a business process.
"Most innovators do not have any marketing skills and this portal is being established to act as a catalyst that sets up the processes using best practises and existing resources," he explains.
The ISETT Seta (the Sector Education and Training Authority for the ICT industry) has approved a learnership programme for 200 programmers who are studying the equivalent of a Microsoft Certified Software Development (MCSD) diploma.
For more information contact Séan Achim, ISC, 031 273 1500.
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