[kictanet] ICT incubator - Expressions of interest

Mon Feb 7 20:18:05 EAT 2011

Chris,

That sounds like a useful forum for Listers interested in the economic
future of ICT in the region. I like the thought of initiatives coherently
fitting together, as it should be more of collaboration than  competition
(not that competition I bad for raising standards).

Thanks

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 5:13 PM, Chris Foster <cgfoster at gmail.com> wrote:

>  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> <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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