Five promising innovators that have demonstrated the highest potential for scalability and socioeconomic impact have been awarded financial grants for the successful commercialization of their projects.
This follows their completion of the 2022 ZICTA ICT Innovation program in which a total of 60 startups had enrolled.
Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati presented the awards at a ceremony for the 2022 Cohort and launch of the 2023 Cohort of the ICT Innovation program in Lusaka.
Speaking at the event, Mr Mutati assured that government will not slow down the pace of technology but manage the speed of adoption of the technology.
Mr Mutati said this is because technology is central to the ICT sector which has already been concluded ahead of the launch soon together with the Start-Up bill earmarked for actualization this year.
The minister said the government is also creating the necessary building blocks to ensure that the digital transformation journey is achieved by building confidence and trust through the elimination of fraud.
He said all citizens are also persuaded to answer to the obsession of the new dawn government that the country’s economy can only be rebuilt and grown if innovation is at the centre to drive this transformation.
Mr Mutati also thanked stakeholders such as Airtel and Stanbic bank for having partly sponsored the innovation program, calling on others to open up their resources to fund innovators.
Meanwhile, ZICTA Acting Director General, Collins Chomba said besides receiving financial grants, the five awarded innovators will be provided with mentorship support to ensure their projects achieve the intended objectives and anticipated impact.
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