This document discusses the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the digital economy. It outlines key ICT trends like the democratization of technology and innovation at the edge. It also discusses how digital technologies are disrupting businesses and describes enabling technologies. Further, it explores opportunities for SMMEs in areas like mobile services, smart infrastructure, and m-health. Finally, it presents initiatives to connect entrepreneurs with developers and funding through hackathons, accelerators, hubs and clusters to help SMMEs develop digital solutions.

1. Role of ICT in the digital economy and as a catalyst
for the support and growth of the SMMEs
10th March 2016

2. Key ICT and Digital Society Trends
2
• Democratisation of technology (e.g. 3D printing, mobile apps & OTT)
• Innovation emerging at the edge (e.g. home-based care/ diagnosis)
• Creates opportunities for upstart entrepreneurs to use technology
and build new markets incrementally, at low up-front cost

3. Digital Business and Technologies
3
Digital customer
experience more
important than
product or business
model innovation
Speed is displacing
cost as main criteria
for buying services
(and products)
Augmented human action/
decision-making is
mainstreamed
Digital Business
Strategic Predictions*
*Gartner (2014). Top 10 Strategic Predictions for 2015 and Beyond: Digital Business Is Driving 'Big Change'.
**McKinsey (2013). Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy
• Disruptive business
developed by an algorithm
• Digital assistants will be
trusted with decision-making
Cloud tech
3D
printing
Next-gen genomics
Internet of things
Automation of
knowledge work
Mobile internet
Enabling Technologies/ Methods**
• Smart infrastructure
• Industry 4.0
• Preventative healthcare (e.g.
wearables)
• Hyper-customisation
(incl. location)
• Payments
anytime/where
• Personalised production
part of extended
manufacturing
Advanced
robotics
P2P, Social &
Blockchain
User Empathy
• Design thinking
• Social innovation
• Anonymous / trustless
transactions
• Social economy
• Industry 4.0
• Assistive devices
• Democratising access to
supercomputing (e.g. AWS)

4. 4

5. Healthcare Innovation: At the home
5

6. 6
Healthcare Innovation: Democratisation?

7. 7
Mobile Will Continue to be Significant
Particularly in Developing Countries
• Mobile penetration is still relatively low in Africa
• Mobile solutions substitute for traditional services (e.g. in
banking)
• Mobile has low barrier to entry (cost, convenience) for
SMMEs using the technology, and for new app entrepreneurs

8. Untapped Mobile Opportunity
8
GSMA (2015). Mobile Economy Report

9. Mobile Services in Developing Countries
9
GSMA (2015). Mobile Economy Report

10. Mobile as
Substitute
for Formal
Banking in
Sub-Saharan
Africa
10

11. Township and Rural Connectivity
111

12. Smart Infrastructure/ Utilities (IoT/M2M)
122

13. M-Health: Low-Cost, Remote Diagnosis
133

14. 14
Connecting entrepreneurs to developers
and opportunities
• Traditional ICT companies want to understand emerging
problems/ opportunities in key verticals (e.g. agriculture, education
health)
• Open innovation initiatives connect diverse groups
• Entrepreneurs are engaging developers at hackathons and ICT
clusters to co-create solutions to opportunities they have
identified

15. 15
Hackathons Accelerators
Hubs/
Incubators
▪ Open or closed
▪ Multiple temporary
roles (BA, developer,
designed)
▪ Rapid prototyping
Innovation
Enabler
Examples
Clusters/ Regions
▪ Cohort of 10-30
entrepreneurs
▪ Targeted training on
specific theme (e.g.
fintech)
▪ Exposure to investors
▪ Co-working space
▪ Specialised
professional services
(e.g. IP lawyers)
▪ Seed funding
▪ University, pvt or govt
▪ Industry and SMME
anchors in a region
▪ Close to skills:
universities/ colleges
▪ Work and live in same
area
Accelerators, Hubs and Clusters

16. Solution Exchange
Platform
Private
Companies
SOEs
Govt Depts
Universities
Research
Institutes
SMMEs
Publish innovation
challenges & respond
to tech offers
Submit innovation
responses & push
technology offers
Actively mediated
business transaction
Solution
Seekers
Solution
Providers
The Innovation Hub
Open Innovation Solution Exchange (OpenIX): Building Linkages

17. The Innovation Hub
Traditional Incubators to Specialised Incubation / Ideation Spaces
In collaboration with WITS
University / JCSE
1. digital and gaming
2. Validation and eGovernment

18. 18
Soweto
Ga-Rankuwa
Tembisa
Sebokeng
Mohlakeng
Existing Planned 16/17
eKasi Lab township innovation/
incubation centres
The Innovation Hub eKasiLabs and CodeTribe programmes (in
collaboration with mLab) focusing on inclusive innovation within
the townships and supporting township based entrepreneurs and
SMME to access market opportunities. Three high potential
areas of engagement:
1. SELECTION
Build new township-based entrepreneurs
by investing in technology and business
development at eKasiLabs
3. INCUBATION
Treasury database of
7000+ township-based
entrepreneurs. The
Innovation Hub
database of 8000+
innovators, majority
are SMMEs
Unearth/ stimulate new entrepreneurs
through innovation competitions in
townships & universities
Search and select suitable candidates from
existing databases of tech entrepreneurs
2. SOURCING
GAP ICT innovation
competitions run
annually. R600k seed
funding awarded for
product/ business
development
Alexandra
www.theinnovationhub.com/gap
The Innovation Hub
eKasiLabs: supporting township Entrepreneurs and SMMEs

19. Thank You
19