MEDIA INVITATION

03 MARCH 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Launches First of Its Kind Innovation Co-Lab To Revolutionarise Small Medium Enteprises

THE eThekwini Municipality's commitment to supporting innovation is aggressively being taken into new heights. Thanks to upcoming three-day Innovation Festival that will result to the launch of the Innovation Co-Lab tomorrow, 04 March, the first its kind in KwaZulu Natal.

The lab will be home to an innumerable number of experts who will provide much need technical skills to the surrounding business community. This will be accomplished through the usage of digital training rooms for various classes such as software, design thinking, coding and robotics.

The City is of a strong conviction that bringing technology to the doorsteps of previously disadvantaged communities is a panacea to unlocking economic opportunities. Travelling long distances to access these facilities is now going to be permanently the thing of the past.

The Innovation Festival will kickstart from 05 to 07 March at UMkhumbane Entrepreneurial Support Centre in Cato Manor. This will provide entrepreneurs, researchers, youth, the public sector and innovators with a unique experience, showcasing the latest technology as well as demonstrations, pop-up presentations through seminars and exhibitions.

The festival will also afford attendees a chance to learn more about the fourth industrial revolution and concepts such as coding, 3D laser design, robotics, drones, virtual reality, pitching dens and also host schools programme.

With the world in the grip of the fourth industrial revolution, following this initiative owners of small businesses would have been armed to continue putting bread on the table without being impeded by access to modern technology.

Members of the media are invited to be part of this exciting initiative of the first Innovation Co-Lab in the township area. Details of the two events are as follow:

LAUNCH OF THE INNOVATION CO -LAB

DATE : 4 March 2020

TIME : 12h30

VENUE : UMkhumbane Entrepreneurial Support Centre- Cato Manor

INNOVATION FESTIVAL

DATE : 5 -7 March

TIME : 9am – 17h00pm

VENUE: UMkhumbane Entrepreneurial Support Centre- Cato Manor

ENDS

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact Municipality’s Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220