Finnish Demola Global and the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) are establishing an innovation hub that connects Namibian university students and growth companies to global innovation activities.
Through the engagement, Demola and NUST aim to increase industry-academia collaboration and international connectiveness on the innovation ecosystem in Namibia. The hub aims to connect local students and companies to global innovation activities, with the intention of contributing and utilising the global knowledge base of insights about the future.
It will have a significant impact on the vitality of the Namibian innovation ecosystem.
“The High-Tech Transfer Plaza Select (HTTPS) building at NUST is neatly aligned with the mission of Demola Global. The HTTPS provides a technologically inspired ecosystem, focusing on the university’s creativity and talent. This will enable future innovations that can be taken to market by the industry and deliver benefits to the society,” remarked NUST Vice Chancellor Dr Erold Naomab at a meeting in Windhoek.
Naomab also stated the partnership with Demola Global will position NUST as a global gateway, enabling the operationalisation of research and innovation value chain and creating immense value for staff and students.
“Finland and Namibia have a historical and warm relationship, which provides a solid ground for cooperation. Finnish innovation knowhow is internationally top-level, and the Finnish and Namibian universities already have a successful history of collaboration. This background creates a solid basis for a new kind of innovation partnership as is the case now with Demola and NUST. This is a very welcome initiative that will offer opportunities and benefits – not only to Namibian businesses and startups but also the global community,” minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland Ville Skinnari said.
The innovation activities at Demola Namibia Hub will start immediately.
In the first phase, students will bring their contributions to future work by
joining global innovation teams.
In 2023, NUST and Demola Global will open services to bring global knowledge base available for Namibian companies and startups to accelerate the development of future-proof strategies and new innovative solutions.
¬“Our mission is to create global innovation capital that is based on a continuous chain of innovation and future projects. This knowledge base is shared and utilised globally among all parties. We warmly welcome NUST as a close member to the Demola alliance and as an active contributor to future innovations. We strongly believe that Namibian students have unlimited opportunities in the international innovation field and a way to stand out,” said Ville Kairamo, CEO of Demola Global.
Demola Global is a Finland-headquartered company with award-winning co-creation and innovation services.
Demola facilitates future-oriented innovation projects with international and interdisciplinary teams on a global scale.
Since 2011, Demola has facilitated over 5 000 global teams from 1 200 universities around the world. National and regional programmes as well as hubs are established in cooperation with local universities and innovation institutions.