OPEN INNOVATION REGIONAL CONNECT
Open Innovation (OI) offers organisations (public or private), the opportunity to employ a different method of developing products and services, using the knowledge and expertise of external partners: from customers/users, suppliers, universities, laboratories, individuals (developers and inventors) to companies from different industries. Regional Connect supports OI by offering organisations opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, ensuring the availability of ideas for developing new and improved products, services and solutions, as well as possibilities for entering new markets. Companies around the globe have been using this proven method of solution finding, utilising intermediary platforms that enable the exchange of technologies and finding appropriate partners for developing specific technologies.
WHY GET INVOLVED
This project involves the creation and usage of a digital open innovation platform that actively sources solutions from innovative individuals, start-ups, ideas and companies to solve current and pressing problems in health, education, agriculture and tourism. Through four open innovation opportunity programmes, each addressing an identified need in the respective sector, the public will be invited to submit a potential solution to address the need. Through this open innovation process, applicants are provided with an access point to enter a competitive market, and potentially gain access to interested investors. Individuals, teams or corporations that are selected will undergo a 3 month incubation programme at BITRI, and receive valuable innovation training by RIIS, in order to create their own sustainable business.
HEAT OVERVIEW
The Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), along with their Batswana partners; The Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) and Brynston Creations, launched the second Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme, aimed at addressing challenges in the Health, Education, Agriculture and Tourism (HEAT) sectors through open innovation in the SADC region. Successful challenge entrants will receive support, including a three month incubation at BITRI which includes pitching training, business validation assistance and the opportunity to potentially receive start-up funding from relevant venture capitalists.
View our winners
We're proud to share the winners of the HEAT challenges with you. Thank you to all who participated and made these open innovation challenges a success. We can't wait to see these ideas flourish and assist in transforming the respective industries.
Current Partners - SAIS 2
SOUTH AFRICAN INNOVATION SUPPORT
The Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS 2) is a regional initiative that supports the growth of new businesses through strengthening innovation ecosystems and promotion of cross-border collaboration between innovation role-players in Southern Africa.
THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability is the lead implementation partner for this project and has facilitated several successful open innovation platforms. RIIS has extensive experience in the field of innovation management consulting.
BRYNSTON CREATIONS
Brynston Creations, located in Botswana and spear headed by Ambrose Makgonatsothle, assists in the development of open innovation challenges, pertinent market research and strategic insights development within the SADC region.
