Legends from the private sector include FNB Innovation Programme Manager Paul Steenkamp, Verimark founder Willie Van Straaten, Brian Steinhobel of the Steinhobel Group and William Gwata, the Zimbabwean scientist, accountant and inventor of a hugely-successful automatic pap-cooker. The CSIR will present case studies of some of South Africa’s most exciting and successful innovations.

Insight into the creation of entrepreneurs will be provided by the dynamic Nigerian- born TV presenter and businesswoman, MokyMakura, author of “The secrets of entrepreneurs”, and Allon Raiz, radio and TV personality and CEO of Raizcorp, dedicated to incubating small businesses in Africa.

This years’ summit will examine the possibilities offered by the latest technology, from social networking to biomimcry to the prospects of quantum computing which will be explained by theoretical physicist Dr Frans Petruccione.

In line with the Innovation Summit’s commitment to indigenous creativity and eco-friendly products, each delegate will receive a bag filled with the fruits of local innovation from Sasol ChemCity as well as exquisite hand-made felt slippers produced by FLOCK, women in the dusty dorp of Petrusville.

The event is hosted by the IDC, a leading partner in the Innovation Summit through its Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII). The IDC said it was confident this year’s summit would provide “a significant launching ground for many iconic projects”.

Anglo Platinum described its involvement as ‘an ideal opportunity to communicate with innovators and the innovation community’, and to stimulate the development of commercially-viable technology Anglo’s new development fund is offering a R300,000 prize for the most promising new application for platinum group metals.

The Innovation Summit also depends on a number of other committed supporters, namely Novixo, Mail & Guardian, SAB Foundation and Lemnis Lighting, one of the 10 top innovation companies in the world according to a recent survey.

The Innovation Summit is jointly owned and organised by Sense2Solve and the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS). Dr. Audrey Verhaeghe, CEO of RIIS and Itha Taljaard, CEO of Sense2Solve, said this year’s event takes innovation capability building to new heights in South Africa. The Summit offered an open call for papers and the public response was overwhelming. The variety and quality content is unparalleled in South African events.

Formore information or to register, visit www.innovationsummit.co.za For information about the global innovation index, visit www.globalinnovationindex.org

For more information, interview requests et al: Suzette Heydenreich PR, Marketing C: +27 72 774 2206 T: +27 28 514 3152 E: marketing@innovationsummit.co.za