The City of Ekurhuleni has set aside R90-million in the current financial year to set up six new fabrication labs (fablabs).
This is to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship in its townships, said MMC for finance and economic development, Clr Doctor Xhakaza, at the four-day SA Innovation summit at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
He outlined the city’s plans to grow innovation through introducing it to young people from historically disadvantaged communities.
“We have witnessed immense prototypes created in our townships designed at three of our already existing fablabs in Tembisa, Thokoza and Tsakane. We are rolling out fabrication labs as we have noted the interest they generated among youngsters already.
“The main objective is to accelerate growth for our township entrepreneurs through innovation and to promote smart city facilities for every professional institution to take innovation seriously,” Xhakaza told delegates, exhibitors and inventors at the summit.
As the City of Ekurhuleni continues to work towards its goal of building fablabs across Ekurhuleni, a collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Fab Foundation is underway, to ensure success in the establishment of the facilities.
The partnership will aid the city as the initiative is aimed at accelerating skills development by bridging the gap of inaccessibility to facilities. Entrepreneurial mentorships and workshops are offered at the fablabs to guide inventors about the process of commercialising an innovation, thereby allowing more young people to create practical and marketable solutions.
