Joint initiative to promote ICT and electronics sector in KZN

17 November 2004 News

In a joint initiative to spur growth in the ICT and electronics sectors in KwaZulu-Natal, Mark Shuttleworth's venture capital companies HBD (Here Be Dragons) and Upstarts Incubating Innovators, and the Embizeni Innovation Support Centre in Durban have agreed to work together to identify and support innovators with great ideas.

The Embizeni Innovation Support Centre assists KZN-based individuals and companies to commercialise innovative ideas by providing legal, marketing, technical, financial, coaching, mentoring, networking and managerial support.

Its interim CEO, Steve Giddings, says that until now neither HBD nor Upstarts have had a significant presence in KZN. "Their interest in working with us is an indication of how far the centre has developed. It is most encouraging and demonstrates the tremendous vote of confidence they have in the province and the potential for growth and development."

The three organisations will work closely in their respective business objectives. HBD offers a full service venture capital targeted at the upper end of the investment chain, while Upstarts focuses on entry level or early stage innovation.

Embizeni's role will be to manage the innovation process and work with HBD and Upstarts in co-developing markets.

"Innovation management is about reducing risk. This is attractive to HBD because if they know that there is a hands-on management charter then the chances of success rise dramatically and their willingness to invest is far greater," says Giddings.

Embizeni's strategy, he says, is to manage the commercialisation process of an innovation. The innovations it recommends to venture capital companies are likely to be of a high quality because a high element of risk has been reduced thereby giving the investor more certainty going forward.

For more information contact Embizeni Innovation Support Centre, +27 (0)31 273 1500.

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Exciting times ahead?
Technews Publishing News
There are many subjects that excite me in this world, but two of the larger technical subjects are, firstly, renewable energy, and secondly, the idea of artificial intelligence as it continues to evolve ...

Read more...

---

Microchip expands partnership with TSMC
News
Microchip Technology has announced it has expanded its partnership with TSMC to enable a specialised 40 nm manufacturing capacity at Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Read more...

---

Huge SA grid battery project
News
A standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) has won preferred bidder status under South Africa’s Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP).

Read more...

---

Mouser sponsors NCP Cup 2024
News
The NXP Cup is an EMEA-based autonomous car competition, presented by NXP Semiconductors, which is designed to provide students with real-world experiences in autonomous vehicle programming and building.

Read more...

---

TrinaTracker brings its smart solar tracking to SA
News
The Vanguard 1P is designed to provide customers with trackers that combine suitability for flat terrain, together with outstanding system stability and reliability, quick installation, and flexible external compatibility.

Read more...

---

Nordex adding 830 MW of wind generation
News
Nordex Energy South Africa will be adding 830 MW of wind energy generation capacity to the company’s already-installed 1 GW base.

Read more...

---

Invertek produces its three millionth drive
iTek Drives News
Invertek Drives Ltd, a global manufacturer of variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, has celebrated producing its three millionth VFD, just three years after its two-million milestone.

Read more...

---

Analog Devices’ digital storefront is live
News
Analog Devices has designed an improved digital experience with users in mind – a new analog.com website and eShop.

Read more...

---

Vicor Powering Innovation podcast
News
The episode explores electrification with Lightning Motorcycles, a company that produces the fastest electric motorcycle on the planet.

Read more...

---

ModusToolbox Workshop 3
News
This workshop will focus on enabling a PSoC development kit, connected over Wi-Fi and leveraging MQTT, to create the framework of an IoT application.

Read more...

---