AFRICA— The United Kingdom (UK)’s Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport has launched a scheme to develop next generation of African start-ups.

The project named “Go Global Africa 2020” aims to build links with the UK’s thriving digital sector and pave the way for future economic partnerships.

The program is currently open to firms from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa developing tech solutions in finance, agriculture, health and clean energy and will be run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through its International Tech Hub Network.

 The Application process is currently underway even as the UK invites some of Africa’s most innovative start-ups are to take part in a global tech project to take their businesses and ideas to the next level.

Entrepreneurs who have developed products that are ready to go to market and have already raised investment are invited to apply.

Digital Minister Matt Warman said, “Through the Go Global Africa project we are giving entrepreneurs the support they need to grow their business and benefit from the UK’s world-leading tech and innovation expertise.

This will allow them to continue developing technology to improve lives around the world.”

I encourage all those with the talent and ambition to succeed to apply for a place on this exciting project.”

Africa is home to a rapidly growing tech sector. Its start-ups raised 50 per cent more venture capital in 2017 than in 2016. The majority of this is being invested in South Africa (£130 million), Kenya (£114 million) and Nigeria (£89 million).

Nigeria’s tech sector generates more than 10 per cent of the country’s economic output and the sector is projected to create three million jobs and generate £67.4 billion for the economy by 2021.

Kenya’s technology sector is growing rapidly and is worth more than 11 percent of the country’s economic output.

It is considered one of the most vibrant, advanced and successful in Africa.

South Africa attracted a record amount of investment in tech of any African country in 2017.

It raised almost £128m and research by the World Economic Forum ranks it as the best place to do business in Africa.

UK’s Digital Access Programme aims to boost digital skills and connectivity and build the cybersecurity capacity of partner countries.

 It will also help create a thriving digital ecosystem that will stimulate innovation to address local development challenges, create skilled jobs and generate partnerships between the UK and Africa.

The launch of Go Global Africa 2020 coincided with the start of the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London which will bring together businesses, governments and international institutions to showcase and promote investment opportunities across Africa