Digital innovation is truly a global phenomenon, and one of the best illustrations for that fact is the Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) at re:publica. Following on from its debut in 2013, the GIG this year is continuing its good work and bringing together experts – particularly from Africa – to look at the state of innovation around the world.
The GIG program includes talks, panel discussions and a more intimate location for small gatherings which will include a meet-and-greet entitled Silicon Allee Meets Silicon Savannah to which a lucky few of our readers can come along and meet the innovators making waves in Africa.
The idea is to bring out two communities together and see what happens – the more we build links between Europe and Africa the better!
Among those in attendance will be Tayo Akinyemi, an entrepreneurship enthusiast who has worked for several young ventures in the US, Africa and Latin America. She is now the director of AfriLabs, which supports the growth of communities in African technology hubs by providing tools and resources for new and emerging scenes.
Also taking part will be Ahmed Bastawy, social engineer and co-founder of icealex, a green technology innovation hub in Egypt, and the Ro2yaty Training Agency, which supports social initiatives and enterprises in Alexandria.
We will of course also be there, and it should be a great chance to create a real melting point of ideas.
Overall, more than 30 members of the AfriLabs network from across Africa will be in attendance at the GIG, as well as representatives from hubs in Asia and Latin America. The GIG will this year have three spaces at re:publica: A MakerSpace in the central hall where different maker workshops will take place, a lounge outside in the courtyard and, on the last day of the conference, a whole stage.
If you want to be at the meet-and-greet, then tweet us (@siliconallee) and tell us why you should be there! Please note: You must already have a ticket to re:publica 14 itself; invitation to the Silicon Allee Meets Silicon Savannah event DOES NOT permit entry into the conference.
You can also catch Silicon Allee editor-in-chief David Knight at the GIG moderating a panel discussion looking at digital innovation hubs around the world and how Africa is perceived elsewhere. The panelists will include Tayo Akinyemi from AfriLabs, Paula Guiterrez of Impact Hub in LA and Jay Fajardo of Launchgarage. The panel takes place at 10am on Thursday, May 8 on Stage 6.
Photo credit: Gregor Fischer / re:publica 2013