iceaddis is a University-based innovation hub, incubator and co-working space for communities. We contribute to Ethiopia’s economic growth by tightening the constructive interaction between researchers, developers, entrepreneurs, creative workers and customers and by promoting local technological solutions to the public.
The aim of iceaddis is to establish a national network of collaboration and a home of Ethiopian made innovations. The network provides spaces where appropriate and value-added technologies will be developed and put into use for communities be it in business or education sectors in Ethiopia.
Recent experiences from the tech scene in Africa, particularly in the field of information and communication technologies, show that multi-party innovation networks accelerate technology adaption and the development of intermediate technologies. Due to the diverse and non-hierarchic technology development patterns of the 21st century sustainable business development should be tied to collaborative spaces of technological innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Innovation platforms such as the iHub (Kenya), Bantalabs (Senegal), Wennovation Hub (Botswana) and Hive Colab (Uganda), as well as continent wide innovation community Afrilabs provide a pattern for enabling fast technology adaption and a local technology support environment.
iceaddis draws on these experiences and aims at cross-linking ICT innovation with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills development as well as with incubator facilities for startup companies. Its purpose is to encourage collaboration and to be a physical nexus point between investors, academia, the technology communities, technology companies, and the wider private sector. People using the center will be able to use business software solutions, as well as receive relevant trainings and business development coaching. Communities, students and young entrepreneurs share ideas, pool resources online, use ICTs effectively, access business/life skills trainings, and transform their ideas into viable businesses.