OVERVIEW Information and
OVERVIEW Information and communication technology Incubators and laboratories are boosting innovation. A number of public and private initiatives are under way to boost the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in the Eastern Cape. Development agency Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has a specific emphasis on the ICT sector in terms of the loans that it disburses. The ECDC works through the Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative (ECITI), which also promotes the film sector. The ECITI is designed to stimulate the creation of small, micro and medium enterprises. Among recent topics dealt with at the annual ICT Summit organised by ECITI are ICT infrastructure, innovation, social transformation in ICT, digital skills, ICT codes and how to avoid vendor mistakes in government. The East London, Queenstown and Umthatha based branches of ECITI offer office space to start-up enterprises as well as capacity building initiatives. This virtual support can be given to similar companies throughout the Eastern Cape province focussing and ensuring inclusivity for rural communities. The director of one of these companies is very positive about the support received from the ECITI. Khanyisa Ngewu of On the Record, a communications and media management company says, “I believe the most notable value-add has been the training I received in Value Added Tax, project management and financial management; as well as access to legal advice relating to handling contracts.” The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) runs an ICT incubator in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. Known as the Seda Nelson Mandela Bay ICT Incubator (SNII), support is given in a wide range of sub-sectors such as graphics, systems analysis, hardware and software. A new research and development laboratory was established by SNII in 2016, focussing on apps, mechanical and technical prototypes and software solutions. SECTOR INSIGHT A community telecoms network has been established in a rural area. • ICT start-ups can get office space and support from the ECITI. SNII also hosted a national conference on “Universal Affordable Access to Communications in South Africa” in 2016. An example of what can be done to reduce telecommunication costs in rural areas was presented by the University of the Western Cape, who have teamed up with the Mankosi community in a rural part of the Eastern Cape and created the Zenzeleni Network. This is essentially a community telecoms company where local calls are free, data is considerably cheaper and calls to other networks half the normal cost. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is an agency of the National Department of Trade and Industry, and gives non-financial support to entrepreneurs. The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) was originally created to create skills for the broadcasting EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017 50
OVERVIEW environment, but it is now being integrated with two other entities, eSkills Network and the Institute for Satellite and Software Applications (ISSA) to form Ikamva National e-Skills Institute (iNeSI). The focus of the new entity is on developing e-skills capacity in South Africa by creating partnerships that guide e-skills initiatives. The head office is in Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape Colab is based at the Walter Sisulu University and its focus is “ICT for Rural Development”. The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) has concentrated on providing connectivity for schools in five provinces, including the Eastern Cape, and smart devices have been distributed to schools. Teachers are being trained on how to use the smart devices, in order to improve the learning experience of the students. A number of incentives relevant to companies and educational bodies in the ICT sector are available from the Department of Trade and Industry. These include: • The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP): companies and educational institutions working to improve technology; 50/50 cost sharing grant to a maximum of R8-million • Technology Development Fund: the Technology Innovation Agency makes up to R50-million available for up to 10 years • Technology Venture Capital: managed by the Industrial Development Corporation; commercialisation of innovative products, processes and technologies. ONLINE RESOURCES Department of Trade and Industry: www.dti.gov.za Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative: www.eciti.co.za Technology Innovation Agency: www.tia.org.za Ikamva National eSkills Institute: www.enesi.org.za South African State Information Technology Agency: www.sita.co.za A champion for a connected, empowered and informed Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative supports small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in the ICT, film and media sectors in the Eastern Cape. ECITI has strategic partnerships with colleges and universities, state agencies and with companies in the private sector. Join our Incubation Programme We offer shared services and infrastructure to in-house companies, and a range of business support services, from business mentorship and coaching, advisory support and skills development to seminars in financial management, networking forums and linkages to local and international markets, funders, potential investors, industry experts and academia. Strategic Partnership ECITI constantly strives to establish strategic partners with government, funders, corporates, academia and local entrepreneurs in order to carry out the vision. The incubator extends an invite for partners in capacity building, access to markets and networks building that would directly benefit the enterprises that are incubated within ECITI and thus contribute to the economic viability of the Eastern Cape province. Contact details: Telephone: +27 87 373 0970 | Email: info@eciti.co.za | Website: www.eciti.co.za Block B, ELIDZ Science & Technology Park, Lower Chester Road, Sunny Ridge, East London EC 5201
