The Gauteng Accelerator Programme (GAP) will be running its 13th annual GAP Innovation Competition, to assist those with exceptional business ideas. The Innovation Hub, the innovation agency of the Gauteng Province, is completely owned by the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency. It was created by the Gauteng Provincial Government through the Department of Economic Development to promote the economic development and competitiveness of Gauteng through sponsoring innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Innovation Hub offers incubation (growth) programmes in many industries including:
- Bioeconomy (Agriculture and pharmaceutical)
- Smart Industries (ICT and advanced manufacturing)
- Green Economy (Water purification, waste management, and renewable energy)
- Township Economy
Also, The Innovation Hub runs a range of enterprise development, skills development, and innovation-supporting programmes throughout the Gauteng region.
This year, the GAP Innovation Competition is working in collaboration with Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Emory University Business School, Atlanta Georgia, and Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (Tasez).
The Gap Innovation Competition Seeks to Help Innovators, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs
The GAP Innovation Competition is run by The Innovation Hub (TIH) and has assisted several entrepreneurs over the years in launching their businesses with seed funding including those in the youth, female, people living with disabilities, and previously disadvantaged individuals categories.
For this round, the TIH is searching for innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs working on new technologies to:
- Improve Government service delivery.
- Increase the competitiveness of the local economy.
- Make the lives of ordinary South Africans better.
“Our theme for this year’s iteration of the GAP Innovation Competition is Ignite Your Innovation.”
Thibi Matshele, TIH’s acting CEO
“It’s a theme we crafted with the understanding that the country is filled with many creative and innovative entrepreneurs across our country.”
Thibi Matshele, TIH’s acting CEO
A key area that is a big focus of the Gauteng government is the township economy, where TIH has identified and invested in aspiring entrepreneurs through eKasiLabs, spread across the province’s five economic corridors.
Since its beginning in 2011, the GAP Innovation Programme has accepted more than 1,600 entries across five different categories, invested over R22-million in seed funding, and provided growth support to over 135 start-ups.
Not only will this year’s winners share in seed funding and cash prizes, but they will also have access to a network of services from technical and business mentors and intellectual property specialists. Finally, they will benefit from access to TIH’s many connections with industry and government partners in the Science and Technology Park.
Matshele also said:
“We are a country that is regarded as one of the strongest economies not only in our continent but beyond. Based on that, our economy needs the kind of sectorial competitiveness that will not only respond to problems but come up with innovative solutions. Our researchers and innovative entrepreneurs have continuously proved to be leading lights for innovation.”
BRICS Summit: South Africa in the Spotlight.
The GAP Innovation Competition closes on the 21st of August 2023. For more information, click here.