Johannesburg, 25 Jun 2008
Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka yesterday launched IBM's Africa Innovation Centre, at IBM's Sandton headquarters.
Guests at the event included Steve Mills, senior VP of IBM's software group; communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri; and local musician Johnny Clegg.
Mark Harris, sub-Saharan Africa and general country manager at IBM, introduced the centre as a "world-class best practices facility" that is intended to be more than a technology showcase. It is also a centre for skills development intended to strengthen the region's economic position through quality job creation, he noted.
The Innovation Centre, described as the "anchor point" of business growth in Africa, forms part of IBM's two-year, $120 million investment in the region.
In her speech, Mlambo-Ngcuka observed that "Africa is under-utilising technology". She praised IBM for its foresight in creating the centre, saying the best thing for the country is "[to use] technology to produce globally competent workers".
The Innovation Centre also showcases green technology, a trend which Mlambo Ncguka believes needs to be embraced by young people in order to create an Africa "inheritable to our children".
Africa's first Cloud Computing Centre finds its home here, and is linked to all 80 worldwide IBM laboratories using a high-bandwidth connection, allowing for "access to deep research".
The centre is a direct response to president Thabo Mbeki's call to industry to invest in initiatives that support and advance skills development.
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