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Third annual Stellenbosch #IdeasForChange Challenge accepting applications

The Stellenbosch Network has announced the commencement of its third annual #IdeasForChange Challenge, in collaboration with the Sustainability Institute and the Department of Science and Innovation’s Regional Innovation Support Programme (RSIP).

The Stellenbosch Network is a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary membership organisation that brings together people from industry, government, society, and academia with the goal of sharing ideas, fostering connections, and encouraging collaboration and partnership for the greater Stellenbosch area’s inclusive economic growth.

This #IdeasForChange Challenge aims to find and support the development of innovative ideas, business models, and technology that have the potential to improve citizens’ quality of life, reduce the social and environmental impacts of rapid urban development, and improve the sustainability of local ecosystems on which Stellenbosch depends.

All residents of Stellenbosch and its environs are encouraged to contribute their creative ideas for making the city more sustainable. Entrants will compete for a share of ZAR30,000 (US$2,000) in cash rewards as well as access to a Value Proposition Masterclass to help them bring their concept to life.

Applications should provide a solution to a problem that Stellenbosch is now dealing with, which might be a global or national one such as food security, energy, or poverty. Integrative and cross-cutting problem-solving concepts will be recognized as innovative.

“The aim of this year’s #IdeasForChange Challenge is to stimulate Stellenbosch’s entrepreneurship and innovation culture to get people thinking about sustainable solutions that have the potential to become actual products to mitigate the effects of climate change. It’s about local people solving local problems. As a cross-sector and interdisciplinary membership organisation that brings people together from industry, government, society and academia, we can take the winning idea and use our connections to help it materialise and benefit those who need it most,” said Stellenbosch Network’s operations manager Hanli Brink.

 

 

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