Innovation has become vital for sustainable growth and economic development. In the modern economy, innovation has a paramount role in value creation, income generation and job creation. It leads to the establishment of new businesses, and hence improves competitiveness.
Most technological innovations occur in an effort to solve existing problems. In a business environment where everything changes constantly, it is a must that enterprises continuously search for new ways of production. They have to be able to offer new products and improve existing ones.
Innovations that bring meaningful change could come about at small scale. That is why it is important to encourage young people with talent for innovation. In Ethiopia, innovation competitions have become major platforms for giving young entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises a chance to demonstrate and promote their innovative works. Besides, such occasions also give young innovators a chance to access finance and other opportunities to pursue their dreams to contribute their part for the national economy.
Recently, the U.S. Embassy, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and iCog Labs have organized Solve IT! 2019, a nationwide innovation competition where 112 youth entrepreneurs participated.
Solve IT! 2019 is a nationwide innovation competition in its second year that encourages young Ethiopians to develop innovative projects, promote entrepreneurship, and solve local problems through technology. Participants from fifteen cities participated in the Solve IT 2019 competition: Arba Minch, Aksum, Dire Dawa, Gambella, Harar, Semera, Assosa, Adama, Bahir Dar, Jimma, Jigjiga, Gondar, Mekelle, Hawassa, and Addis Ababa.
The winners of this year’s competition were Melkamu Taddese and Memberu Zeleke, who won 100,000 Birr for their joint project, the creation of a 3D printer. Second place went to Dawit Getachew and Hanna Workineh, whose project was a machine that converts plastic waste into fuel and electrical power. Hanna Tilahun and Hume Degbesa took third place for their Yegna project, a monitoring device that tracks the frequency and strength of uterine contractions by controlling the drip of oxytocin.
Solve IT! 2019 received nearly 2000 project applications from throughout Ethiopia. The overall project included hands-on entrepreneurial training sessions throughout the country, hands-on mentorship of teams who developed 63 innovative products and services, and a week-long boot camp in Addis Abeba, which culminated in a national competition with 112 youth entrepreneurs.
Gurmessa Gobena, one of the participants in the competition, is a student of Plant Science and Engineering at Arsi University. He told The Ethiopian Herald that he previously participated in similar competitions in Turkey and several Arab countries. Previously, he also won an award in a competition organized by Ministry of Innovation and Technology. He has about 25 innovations to help the agricultural sector ranging from water pump and wind energy. He has also received three patent rights for the three veterinary medicines he invented.
In the competition, he participated with his new innovation called ‘Six in One Combine Agro’ Machinery (SOCAM). This agricultural machine can function six types of farm activities including plowing, harvesting, spraying pesticide and the likes. In total, it can carry out agricultural works that require seven people. As to him, the productivity of maize and wheat is low due to gaps in technology.
In his locality in Arsi, Gurmessa witnessed that the productivity of farmers was severally affected by pests. He invented the SOCAM so that the farmers use it to spray pesticide to prevent pests from attacking their maize farm. The farmers use a traditional way of preventing pests and have not been effective. “That is why I spent 80,000 ETP to produce SOCAM using metal.”
“We have to come up with local solutions for our problems. There are a lot of innovations that can solve the communities’ problems in various educational institutions. But the findings are left on the shelf due to lack of fund to execute them. The government and other institutions should support these young innovators.”
He added that he received material and financial support from Ossata Oromo Science and Technology and Arsi University.
Tsega Telayneh Melese, is also another participant who came from Bishoftu. He invented a drone to assess diseases that affect harvest; he named the innovation ‘plant doctor’. By taking pictures from above, it helps to identify what type of disease has affected the crops.
Currently, due to lack of technology, the traditional medicines that farmers usually buy on their own cause health damage. The plant doctor is a viable solution to this problem. “It took me two years to finalize the project,” he said. “I attended Debere Tabor University.
At that time, I attended a research forum about the major challenges Ethiopia’s agriculture sector has been facing. As our country’s economy is dependent on the agriculture sector, I felt duty-bound to contribute my part in solving the sector’s problems.”
Then after, Tsega started to study about machines. “I started the current project when I was a fourth-year student and completed it the next year. I made the drone using materials that are available locally. I have also developed software.”
What makes the innovation different from other drones is that it is easy to use for Ethiopian framers. Its price is also relatively cheaper. Hence, if it is widely used, it will help the country save a large amount of hard currency that is spent in importing drones. “But we have to start being proud of our local innovations.”
Both of them said this kind of competitions gives them the chance to show their innovations to the world and in the meantime get opportunities to improve their innovations.
At the closing ceremony, U.S. Ambassador Michael Raynor highlighted, “By supporting these programs and investing in their young participants, we’re investing in their capacity to find solutions that help their families, their communities, and their country. The overall result will be a stronger Ethiopia, which is the outcome we all want to see.”
Japanese Ambassador Daisuke Matsunaga stated, “I believe emerging technologies or leapfrog technologies could change the world, especially in Africa. Talented youths are key to a country’s future. We are going to continue our support for human resource development.”
In his closing remarks, JICA Chief Representative Makoto Shinkawa said, “As a follow-up to Solve IT 2019, JICA is launching an acceleration program to further nurture the talent that has emerged through this competition. The accelerator will begin within the year and include the opportunity to train overseas.”
Betelhem Dessie, Solve IT project adviser said, “Solve IT! is more than just an innovation competition; it’s a community of young and capable individuals who have a vision of changing their country for the better. SolveIt! is expanding its reach every day through our alumni and partners.”
The Ethiopian Herald August 22, 2019
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
