The role of innovation in speeding up the national economy is not subject to doubt. This is a reality witnessed across the globe. In this respect, the role of young innovators is vital. No matter what the economic situation of a given country is, no matter What many universities exist in that particular nation, always, there are innovators everywhere in this planet.
Some of the young innovators have got the chance to display their creativity to the public to be rewarded for their excellence, while others have failed to get the chance. Their creativity is aborted. What would happen if every creative youth had the chance? The answer is simple. They can add value in the national economic system.
SolveIT is one of the projects. It provides a chance to innovative youths. It is a nationwide innovationbased competition which provides modern, adaptable, and properly configured and conditioned platform decentralizing innovation activities to the grassroots level. “SolveIT!” promotes entrepreneur ship and encourages a new generation of young Ethiopians to solve problems in their communities using technology, software and hardware.
The competition is implemented by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with partners. SolveIT has been guiding young Ethiopians into the realm of tech entrepreneurship by providing technical and theoretical training courses on software, hardware, and marketing concentrated toward the concept of start-ups and propoor technologies.
The project has proved to be the ideal platform where investors easily fish for the best young innovators in Ethiopia. The U.S Embassy Addis Ababa in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is sponsoring the second SolveIT a national innovation competition here Ethiopian .Youth will develop tech-based solution to address community challenges. The program was officially launched in Addis Ababa on February 2019, with state level launches to follow in 14 other towns is Ethiopia.
So far, the second SolveIT! Competition has registered more than 1,500 participants nationwide and is now conducting orientations. U. S Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Li Ping Lo said, “SolveIT! Is part of U.S. Embassy`s ongoing efforts to invest in Ethiopians, providing opportunities, training and experiences in health, education, human rights, economic development, humanitarian assistance and peace and security. The program is collaboration among the U.S. Embassy, JICA, iCog Labs and Humanity plus.
JICA BDS project Chief Adviser, Hideo Egu Chi said, “JICA started its Business Developed Service (BDS) Enhancement project in September 2018 as part of efforts to support micro, small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs in Ethiopia in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Federal Small and Medium Manufacturing Industry Development Authority, the Federal Urban Job Creation and Food Security Agency and the Addis Ababa City Administration.
By supporting and developing ecosystem than promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and technology, the U.S Embassy is investing on the capacity of Ethiopia and to shape their future technologically. SolveIT 2019 will take place in 15 cities in Ethiopia: Arba Minch, Addis Ababa, Adama, Assosa, Axum, Bahirdar, Dire Dawa, Gambella, Gondar, Harar, Hawassa, Jigjia, Jimma, Mekelle and Summera. Training will be given in the cities focusing on product development, technical support, marketing and business planning.
Winners at the state level will advance to the National Round, a week long boot camp and presentation before a jury of industry experts. At the award ceremony, following the first SolveIT! Competition in 2018, U.S Ambassador Michael Raynor noted “…as Ethiopia embarks on the hard work of building its bright future, there will be challenges. But as this competition shows, challenges exist to be solved, and the challenges Ethiopia faces will be solved first and for most by Ethiopians.” Ministry of Innovation and Technology Dr. Kalid Ahmed, Director General for Innovation and Research Affairs, said the Ministry is reformed with the merge of former two Ministries.
The ministry is formed with the vision of supporting the national technological capability which is one of the core values of national development agenda. He said that seeing the role of technology and innovation for the overall economic transformation of the country, the government is working aggressively. According to him, the role of innovation and technology is unquestionable for every sector.
In this regard, using its research supporting mechanism and incubation centers the ministry is creating an ecosystem favorable for the national economy. He said, working with its various directorates hand in hand, the Ministry is also clicking with stakeholders such as SovleIT! and others that inspire Ethiopian youth to create and invent.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 10/2019
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
