folyamatban project

What is the Innovation for Africa project about?

The project aims at establishing a long-term transfer of knowledge and technology and promoting economic cooperation between Hungary and South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. The project wishes to find solutions that are equally beneficial for all parties, and also takes the ethical and moral aspects into consideration. Since the launch of the programme in January 2014, the possibilities of Hungarian innovations for entering the African market have been identified, and bilateral business relations are currently being developed.

Objectives

• Promoting long-term cooperation between African and Hungarian educational institutions and experts;
• Presenting innovative technologies, services and processes that have been developed or at present are being developed in Hungary to African countries;
• Informing Hungarian entrepreneurs about opportunities and business environment in Africa, thereby reinforcing their trust in African partners;
• Disseminating project results and the identified opportunities.

Why Africa?

Over recent years, both Hungarian and international actors have developed an increasing interest in the dynamically improving African countries that have great potential for investment. The African continent welcomes investments that make it possible for new technologies and innovative solutions to enter the local economic regions, ensuring employment and sustainable development for the local communities.

What makes this project unique?

It is a common knowledge that in order to successfully enter the African market, extensive experience, a solid knowledge of the culture, and a wide range of contacts are required. The programme of the Foundation for Africa and INNOVATIO Management Kft offers a solution for this.

Results of the project

Phase 1 - study tour

During our study tour organized in the sub-Saharan region in the autumn of 2014, we established promising relationships with several public organizations, chambers and business networks where we presented the potentials of our country and we initiated dialogues between the parties interested. We distributed a catalogue listing a selection of Hungarian companies that offer innovative products and solutions. The tour also enabled us to better identify the African demand and to connect it to the Hungarian supply.

Phase 2 – road show

Within the framework of our road show between March and May of 2015, five Hungarian companies had the possibility to present themselves to their Congolese and Kenyan partners and to deepen their relations. The activities of Hungarian companies covered a wide range of sectors from security printing to poultry breeding.
 
Phase 3 – Hungarian-African Innovation and Business Conference

We invited African officers, businessmen to the conference with whom we have strengthened our relationship during the project, and who have shown a serious interest in the Hungarian innovation potential and in cooperating with Hungarian business partners and research and development institutions. The two-day event consisted of thematic workshops and lectures focusing on the Hungarian and African business environments that provided an insight for the participants about investment and business opportunities as well as possible financing mechanisms. Between these activities, the exhibitors could present their enterprises and products for the numerous participants at the marketplace. At the end of the first day, the African guests were invited to a traditional Hungarian dinner where they could enjoy some gastronomical delights of the Hungarian cuisine.

What is next? – Future perspective

Thanks to our initiative, long-term cooperation and promising research and development projects have been created between Hungarian and African companies and organisations. Regarding the cooperation between Hungary and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, negotiations were held that raised the possibility of re-establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, including the accreditation of ambassadors on both sides.

Our networking methods used during the project have proven to be highly effective. In the future, we intend to maintain and develop the established cooperation with the aim of involving as many actors in the public, civil and private sectors as possible. In order to achieve this goal, we planned a second road show to South Africa and Botswana for the autumn of 2015.