Government is working on a Start-Up Bill to support innovators and enable them to commercialise their ideas.
Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati says the bill will also include a venture capital fund meant to boost innovations from the trial stage.
Mr Mutati notes that this is one of the government’s initiatives to help innovators come up with solutions to challenges in various sectors such as agriculture and health and energy that the country is facing.
ZANIS reports that the Minister said this during the launch of the 2024 ZCAS University Innovation Exposition in Lusaka.
Mr Mutati stated that the introduction of initiatives such as the Start-up bill is evidence of the government’s commitment to advancing digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
He added that this is being achieved through the National Technology and Business Centre.
“NTBC working with the UNDP are able to boot you up with at least a 100 thousand Kwacha to support your prototype. So we have brought NTBC here to explain to you the opportunities that are available for you to move to the next level.
NTBC Enterprise Development Specialist Solomon Ngoma, who represented the Director, explained that the centre is mandated to support innovation through the Technology Business Development Fund and various events that provide mentorship and linkages to growth opportunities.
He disclosed that the centre will on Wednesday host the Innovation and Technology Summit under the theme ‘ Zambia Kwacha’.
Meanwhile, ZCAS Vice Chancellor Ed Bbenkele says the expo is not only a platform for displaying technological achievements but also a testament to the commitment of the university to support and implement the call by government on the need for home grown technology for indigenous solutions to problems faced in Zambia.
“Alternative energy solutions are needed, solutions to drought induced problems are needed. We also need to develop manufacturing technologies to increase value additions to our raw materials in the mining and agriculture sectors,” Professor Bbenkele said.
