South African Innovation Summit 2015

The theme for 2015, 'Innovation Intelligence,' seeks to address the mystery of creating that illusive competitive edge through new and convergent thinking. This exciting theme will be unpacked at the SA Innovation Summit through a full and varied programme that will include a local and international plenary, panel debates, break-away sessions, highly interactive workshops and an in-depth matchmaking service, facilitated by industry professionals.

The summit will look closely at the key challenges faced by entrepreneurs, developers, researchers, thought leaders, inventors and investors, as well as proposing inventive solutions and powerful tools to overcome these challenges. Participants can expect mind-opening experiences that seek to influence and lead current thinking in the field of innovation and the problems ordinary South Africans face.

Key Takeaways: 

• Networking with like-minded people that will increase your innovation intelligence. 
• Corporate governance, measurement and reporting of innovation. 
• Mobilising others through crowd sourcing and Open Innovation. 
• Protecting a new idea. 
• Commercialisation tips. 
• Funding sources at different stages of development. 
• Learning how to pitch your solution. 
• How to create a culture of innovation. 
• Benchmarking best practice in innovation management. 
• Platforms that accelerate or focus innovation effort (Incubators and more). 
• Pathways to success, from idea to market. 
• Inspiring and equipping the Corporate Innovation/ R&D Department (designing with the customer in mind). 
• A focus stream on how to grow your small business into a mid-size tech-enabled global business (from R5 million – 50 million). 
• Local innovation case studies that caused global debate (e.g. through expansion, success stories, tactics, IP protection or legendary acts of inventiveness). 
• New models and thinking in creating the EDGE through products, processes, business models and services. 
• Local and global trends in Innovation management – approaches and thinking. 
• Innovation Intelligence Tools (BIG DATA; analytic tools; predictive capability; access to information).