A new Digital Innovation Centre (CDIC) has been unveiled as part of efforts to make Cameroon a digitally advanced country. Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo (Minister of Higher Education) launched it as a fully equipped ICT infrastructure hub. During the 11th of February national youth holiday, an incubator was launched on the 8th of February.
CDIC is situated in Yaoundé with various latest technological tools, electronic communication networks, and infrastructure. Some include a 3D printer, secure datacentre, high-speed internet, multimedia space, and cloud computing facilities. The core focus is to provide a workspace that will enhance the structuring and development of technological competencies and facilitate start-ups through collective access to the latest technologies. It is also intended to improve online training in advancing the “techpreneur” culture and competency in the country.
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According to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Minette Libom Li Likeng: “CDIC constitutes an appropriate framework for supporting young people, in line with the triple presidential exhortation for them to innovate, create and dare.” The Minister affirmed that CDIC would be managed by professionals from the Ministry who are charged with providing users with every type of required support. In achieving their function, the staff of the Ministry were trained on the vision and actions that are required to support the hub.
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Officials at the Launching of CDIC (source: Facebook/CDIC)
Also, the CDIC provides innovators with access to seed funds through mentoring services, intellectual property management, mentoring services, investors, financial services, and marketing expertise. The selection process has commenced with 12 young Cameroonians already selected as the inaugural cohort as part of the upcoming ICT Innovation week.
This project enjoyed a high level of support from the Cameroonian government. President Paul Biya said, “one of the main challenges for our youth is to successfully reach the digital economy. The government will help them in this process by putting in place an efficient and effective infrastructure to do so” in his the 10th of February, 2016 speech to the youth. Hence, the piloting of the CDIC through increased investment by the government.
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The country wants to use ICT sector development as a strategic priority to stimulate the goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2035. The association of start-ups leader, Gouather Alex Bertrand, described CDIC as a boon because it provides 30 percent of technical requirements for innovators in developing and launching their digital ideas.