Uganda has launched a pioneering Deep Technology Strategy aimed at driving economic growth and fostering innovation. This significant initiative was unveiled during the inaugural Deep Technology Summit held in Kampala, organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat in collaboration with Open Start-up Tunisia and FutureLab. The summit served as a platform for local and international experts to come together and shape Uganda’s deep tech strategy, ultimately attracting investment to the sector.
Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, outlined Uganda’s ambitious Tenfold strategy, which aims to boost the country’s GDP from $55 billion to $550 billion by 2040. This transformative plan emphasizes the importance of prioritizing science, technology, and innovation as fundamental pillars for achieving this goal. The summit’s discussions centered around how deep tech can play a critical role in this vision for Uganda’s economic future.
The event featured insights from global leaders in deep technology, who provided valuable perspectives on positioning Uganda at the forefront of deep tech innovation. Experts from the United States, France, South Africa, and Tunisia shared their experiences and strategies for developing robust deep tech ecosystems. Key discussions included building innovative human capital, supporting startups with government-backed funding, and attracting private investment to drive growth.
One of the highlights of the summit was the upcoming unveiling of the DeepTech Incubation Centre in Namanve, which is part of Uganda’s broader Industry 4.0+ initiative. This initiative aims to integrate physical, digital, and biological technologies, paving the way for advanced technological development. The establishment of this incubation center will provide crucial support for startups and entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and collaboration within the deep tech space.
While Uganda has made commendable strides in software development and ICT, there is a recognized need to further enhance its deep technology capabilities. Speakers at the summit emphasized successful models from other countries that Uganda could emulate. Richard Rabbat, CEO of Lighty AI, underscored the importance of aligning talent with startup goals in competitive markets. Tunisian policy expert Alaya Bettaieb highlighted Tunisia’s effective approach to nurturing startups through government-backed funding and a supportive regulatory environment, which led to the growth of the country’s startups from 10 in 2013 to over 200 in 2023.
The success of Uganda’s deep tech initiatives will depend on a synergy between talent development, policy implementation, funding, and supportive infrastructure. By leveraging the insights gained from this summit, Uganda is poised to make significant advancements in its deep technology landscape, ultimately driving economic growth and innovation for years to come.
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