[kictanet] ICT incubator - Expressions of interest

[Chris Foster]

Thanks for this, it's an interesting discussion. How do all these 
different incubators, labs, entrepreneurship schemes and open spaces 
that are emerging in Kenya fit together coherently....

On this subject, I thought I'd point out the launch of the 
Infodev/DFID/Hivos report on the ICT SME Sector taking place in Nairobi 
next week (18th Feb).

 From my brief reading, this report is very much setting out the future 
agenda for these donors on small ICT business development, so it might 
be of interest, and perhaps an appropriate platform to raise these 
issues for debate?

http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.673.html (outline is included below)

Thanks
Chris

-- 
Christopher Foster
PhD Researcher, Centre for Development Informatics (CDI)
University of Manchester, UK
Skype: cgfoster



=======
ICT in East Africa - Report Launch
East Africa ICT SME Report Launch at World Bank, Nairobi
=======
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to play a 
significant role in the next phase of ICT industry growth in East 
Africa. To assess the market and identify opportunities infoDev, UKaid 
and Hivos conducted a detailed on-the-ground study of the ICT SME 
landscape in East Africa. This study performed by the Excelsior Firm, 
engaged over 100 policy makers, investors, academics, donors and 
entrepreneurs.
report Launch


Sign up to attend in person, or online, at eastafricaict.eventbrite.com

Please join us on February 18th for the launch of our report on the East 
African ICT Sector: Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating 
a Business Engine for SMEs. This event will be held at the World Bank 
Offices in Upper Hill Nairobi on 18 February from 10:00am to 12:00pm. We 
will be presenting the report and hosting a question and answer session 
with the project team and donor communities.


Background

The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has been the 
major driver of economic growth in East Africa over the last decade 
growing on average by as much as 40%. To date, growth has largely come 
from world-class innovation by large multinational and local 
enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are poised to 
play a bigger role in the next phase of industry growth. However, they 
must overcome a multitude of system-wide challenges in order for them to 
succeed in the marketplace.

To understand the interventions required, a consortium comprised of 
members from infoDev, UKaid and Hivos conducted a detailed on-the-ground 
study of the ICT SME landscape in East Africa. This study performed by 
the Excelsior Firm, a US and Africa based advisory firm, engaged over 
100 policy makers, investors, academics, donors and entrepreneurs.

The findings suggest that the vision of a robust and dynamic ICT sector 
driven by SMEs that create jobs and world-class innovation is possible, 
and the likelihood of this outcome can be improved with a few targeted 
interventions. The five proposed interventions consist of the 
development of a fully connected SME network, filling the skills gap in 
advanced business and technical knowledge, providing start up and early 
stage funding for companies, enabling job creation for knowledge workers 
and upgrading the business environment. Together these interventions 
form the components of a potential East African ICT Business Engine that 
could boost performance, not only within the ICT sector, as well as 
continue to expand the economic development of the region.

We would like to sincerely thank the over 100 entrepreneurs, ICT 
professionals, academics and experts who participated in interviews, 
workshops and numerous discussions over the past 3 months. We appreciate 
their dedication to the advancement of the ICT sector in East Africa and 
their invaluable contributions to this report.


      *Full Report*


      **Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business
      Engine for SMEs * <http://www.infodev.org/en/Document.1040.pdf>*


      **

**


      *Executive Summary *


      **Transforming the East African ICT Sector by Creating a Business
      Engine for SMEs - Exec Summary *
      <http://www.infodev.org/en/Document.1041.pdf>*






On 07/02/11 17:18, McTim wrote:
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM, John Kieti<jkieti at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> Thanks McTim for good insights
>> I still think it is too early to conclude though. Consider the following :-
>>
>> Strathmore - am not sure they have had time to graduate any incubatee as yet
>> (any updates?)
>> NaiLab has not taken off as yet. Their space (on the 4th floor of Bishop
>> Magua house?) is still an empty hall.
>> mLab (infoDev, iHub, UoN, Web Foundation, eMobilis) is still at infancy.
>> Currently building out on the empty space on the 3rd flr of Bishop Magua
>> House.
>> ictpark.com (Any updates on some graduates will help)
>> KIRDI - (Any updates on some graduates will help)
>>
>> Perhaps you mean that the above and other incubation programs are founded on
>> wrong premises.
> no, I just mean that we seem to have several, so questioning the need
> for more at this point.
>
>

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