The Government has created a Huduma Whitebox one-stop shop website to encourage Kenyans with innovations to share and sell their ideas and innovations for support and promotion.
The website, whitebox.go.ke created by the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs will also help innovators with good innovations receive facilities for start-ups.
Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Ms Maureen Mbaka, said innovators selected will benefit from expert guidance from a network of industry, legal, management and finance who will provide them with guidance and support on financing opportunities and access to market strategies.
“The government will assist the chosen innovators with professional guidance and support to attract financial support, offer access to markets and link them to investors,” said Mbaka.
She however, noted that priority will be given to products that focus on the Big 4 Agenda and address government priorities and challenges.
The CAS was speaking during Africa Travel and Innovation Summit at Ole Sereni Hotel, in Nairobi.
Ms Mbaka commended the aviation sector for revolutionizing air travel across the globe through new technologies which she said has improved security and flight operations, as well as made the flights more efficient and econ-friendlier.
“We are proud of Kenya Airways’ Innovation Hub and the great strides it is making and the platform it is providing Kenyan youths to flex their creative geniuses,” said Mbaka.
She added that the International Air Transport Association report on ‘Future of the Airline Industry 2035’ has identified cybersecurity, robotics and automation, 3D printing and new manufacturing techniques as some of the innovations to be undertaken in the aviation sector.
The CAS encouraged organizations and businesses to take advantage and adopt new technology innovations to improve their products, services, management, marketing techniques and positioning.
Ms Mbaka urged businesses to take advantage of new technologies as it will help to reduce the costs of production, enable higher output and to stay relevant in the competitive marketplace.
According to the new World Economic Forum report, nearly 133 million new jobs may be created by 2022 while 75 million jobs are displaced by artificial intelligence, automation and robotics.
By Bernadette Khaduli
