2023 ENRICH in Africa Congress: the hand-over to the ENRICH in Africa Center
Marking a turning point and symbolising the transition for the ENRICH in Africa Center to take over the services and activities that the ENRICH in Africa Project has delivered, the third edition of the ENRICH in Africa Congress (#EiACongress2023) took place on the 21st of November at the esteemed La Tricoterie in Brussels.
Bringing together a total of 50 attendees and engaging an additional 170+ participants online, the Congress served as a pivotal convergence for influential stakeholders within the African and European innovation ecosystems. This gathering at La Tricoterie stood as a significant milestone, creating a dynamic platform for fostering partnerships and collaborations between key innovation players from both continents. The event was dedicated to promoting innovation and providing crucial business support, reinforcing the commitment to advancing mutual growth and cooperation, and bringing together a diverse group of decision-makers, incubation and acceleration experts, business executives, entrepreneurs, and innovation specialists from Africa and Europe.
The #EiACongress2023 kicked off with a compelling presentation by Prof. Gianluca Sergi from the University of Nottingham, UK. Prof. Sergi delved into the conceptual foundations of innovation, emphasising its role as a dynamic force underscored by ethical considerations. Following this insightful start, Vincenzo Lorusso, representing the European Commission, took centre stage to provide a comprehensive update on the AU-EU Innovation Agenda's implementation. He highlighted the Commission's commitment to prioritising innovation and fostering stronger ties between African and EU ecosystems. As the event progressed, the stage was graced by Andrea Iori from the European Union Intellectual Property Office who shared invaluable insights into intellectual property in Africa, shedding light on the pivotal role of the Africa IP SME Helpdesk and elucidating the existing protection mechanisms. His presentation outlined the diverse services the Commission offers to safeguard entrepreneurs venturing into new territories.
Then Philip Kiracofe from Startupbootcamp AfriTech and Ninon Duval Farré from Bond'innov, experts in the dynamic African market, discussed the continent's opportunities and growth potential, contributing their unique insights. The spotlight then shifted to the EiA Champions Session, featuring Champions from ENRICH in Africa's EiA Champions Network. These Champions highlighted their success stories and elaborated on how the project played a pivotal role in supporting them. The EiA programme for Champions, dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration, provided crucial services such as training, mentoring, twinning and networking, showcasing its impact on incubators and accelerators in both Africa and the EU.
In the afternoon sessions, the EiA Congress focused on the challenges and successes of partnerships between countries; representatives from projects ΑEDIB|NET, DIGILOGIC, AfriConEU, mAkE Africa and HUBiquitious shared their experience and expertise, upcoming opportunities, how these EU-funded projects are tackling different elements of the inherent challenges in collaboration between both continents, and how they are working to break down barriers. The next session complimented it by highlighting the integral roles of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs), and Investors in fostering the growth of African tech ecosystems.
The event concluded with the Board of Directors and the Director of the - future self-sustainable - EiA Center gathering on stage to absorb insights from the event. They discussed the future of the Center, explored opportunities, and outlined the Center’s expansion plans to multiple countries.
The ENRICH in Africa Congress 2023 stands as a testament to the commitment of both African and European stakeholders in building a robust and collaborative innovation ecosystem. The success of this event sets the stage for continued dialogue, partnership, and transformative initiatives that will shape the future of innovation on both continents.
You can find the integral video recording of the livestream below.