Escaping the global downturn, ICT and innovation in Africa are poised for
growth today. However, the landscape for creating and implementing knowledge
in Africa is markedly different from anything else in the world. While some
regions excel in stability and social cohesion, mounting social and economic
challenges frame development efforts elsewhere. This variety of national,
regional and local conditions is giving rise to uniquely “African models of
innovation”, whose closer understanding is prerequisite for successful
innovation and sustainable contribution to development.
Our experience and understanding of how ICT and innovation unfold in Africa is
fragmentary. At the same token, several on-going trends, such as open
innovation and bottom-of-the-pyramid-innovation, are reshaping the way African
communities and people create, adopt and implement technologies. Combined the
challenges and transformations offer tremendous opportunities for Finnish
organizations to contribute to development in Africa by mobilizing Finnish
capacities in ICT and innovation.
Often overshadowed by China and India, Africa is to play an important role in
globalization in the coming decades, as its population is estimated to be
close 2 billion by 2050 and its capabilities in economy, science, technology
and innovation assume momentum. With the on-set of new stage of developments
in Africa, also Finland must examine how to continue to forge special
partnership with Africa in the future.
This seminar is devoted to discuss and analyze the prospects of ICT and
innovations in Africa, as well as to network people who share interest in the
theme. The event is sponsored by VTT. Attendance is free of charge but
registration is required.
Seminar program
SESSION I: Finnish Policies and Strategies Stimulating Innovation and ICT
in Africa
13.00 - 13.05 Welcome
Technology Manager Heli Talja, Ph.D., VTT
Organisations, Networks and Innovation Systems
13.05 -
13.10 VTT
and ICT and Innovation in Africa (pdf)
Dr. Hannes Toivanen,
Senior Research Scientist, VTT Organisations, Networks and Innovation Systems
13.10
- 13.30 The
Development Cooperation Strategy of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
(pdf)
Permanent Under-State Secretary Markku Wallin, Ministry
of Employment and the Economy
13.30 - 13.50 Finnish
Development Cooperation – Support for Information Society Development in
Africa (pdf)
Advisor, Ilari Lindy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
of Finland (tbc)
13.50 - 14.10 Open Discussion: What Is
The Role of Public Policies and Development Cooperation in Fostering ICT and
Innovation in Africa?
14.10 - 14.30 Coffee Break
SESSION
II: Lessons learnt: Cases and experiences
14.30 - 14.50 What
does it take for the Village Connection to Work (pdf)
Mika
Skarp, Nokia Siemens Networks
14.50 - 15.10 Knowledge and
Solution Transfer – Experiences of a Finnish Start-Up in the Great Lakes region
Dr.
Edward Mutafungwa, partner and co-founder, Buddusoft Ltd / Researcher,
Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Communications and Networking
(Comnet)
15.10 - 15.30 Development of Local Economy and
need of electricity
Mervi Suni, Nokia Siemens Networks
15.30
- 15.50 Supporting
South African National Innovation Strategy (pdf)
Maija
Kaltakari, FCG
15.50 - 16.10 Nokia/NSN co-operation
project with South Africa goverment - Mobile learning for formal education for
mathemathics
Riitta Vänskä, Senior Manager, Mobile and Learning
solutions, Sustainable Operations, Nokia
16.10 - 16.30
Open Discussion
16.30 - Refreshments and snacks
