Zambia is getting ready for the Innovation and Technology Summit Kopala (ITS-Kopala), which is set for November 6-7 in Kitwe, as the country continues to make technological strides.
This information was made public at an event held at the Lusaka co-working space of BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub with Hon. Felix Chipota Mutati, MP, Minister of Zambia’s Ministry of Technology & Science.
Zambia’s partners in innovation and technological development
BongoHive, the Finnish embassies, the Greentech4ce Project, the Minetech Hub at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Mukuba UniPod at Copperbelt University, the UNDP Accelerator Labs, the Women Entrepreneurship Access Centre WEAC ZAMBIA, the Zambia Business Angels Network, and the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) are some of Zambia’s partners in innovation and technological development that will be attending the summit.
Hon. Mutati highlighted the Zambia-Finland relationship and the potential for revolutionary innovations to revolutionise an economy, as illustrated by Finland’s story.
He announced that a venture capital fund will be established to support domestic innovators as part of the recently passed Innovation and Inventors Bill. Young innovators will be included on the Fund’s board, encouraged to participate, and own shares in the Fund.
He urged the private sector to support young, productive innovations that tackle climate issues, particularly in the mining industry. According to the Minister, the Innovation and Technology Summit will be held annually.
Innovation and Technology Summit expand on last year’s guidelines
Director Hachombwa Ng’andu, speaking on behalf of the National Technology and Business Centre (NTBC), thanked all those involved for coming to the launch and emphasised that ITS-Kopala expands on the guidelines from the ITS-Z Forum in Lusaka last year.
The NTBC’s mission to foster innovation, technology transfer, and commercialisation is in line with this year’s summit, which will be held at Garden Court in Kitwe, he said.
Her Excellency, the Finnish ambassador to Zambia, Saana Halinen, reaffirmed Finland’s continued support and clarified that Slush, Finland’s international startup conference, served as the inspiration for ITS-Kopala.
She emphasised the summit’s goal of promoting responsible mining through technology and transformative, sustainable innovation.
She urged startups, academia, investors, and the government to work together to shape Zambia’s future through innovation before closing out by inviting everyone to attend the summit on November 6–7, which will promote sustainable, inclusive, and green growth.