![[South Africa] 2021 Joburg Smart City Innovation Challenge launched, R500k up for grabs](Images/Key Industry Images/Smart city innovative solutions 1.jpg)
[South Africa] 2021 Joburg Smart City Innovation Challenge launched, R500k up for grabs
The City of Johannesburg’s Smart City Office, in collaboration with Tshimologong Innovation Precinct has opened applications for 2021 Joburg Smart City Innovation Challenge. The challenge is inviting innovators in South Africa to submit proposals for smart city innovative solutions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to share their innovative ideas on how we can go into the future together.
The lockdown protocols have ignited new thinking about the future of our City and its residents. Therefore, the aim of the Smart City Innovation Challenge is to find and develop digital technology solutions that respond to urban and community challenges faced by the City in the new normal resulting from Covid-19.
Solutions should accelerate service delivery, improve the liveability and safety of the City and enhance operational efficiencies
Lawrence Boya, the Smart City Office Leader, said “This innovation call is an opportunity for innovators of our City to bring forward their innovative solutions to help our City respond in a smarter way to challenges posed by Covid-19. We also hope to use this initiative to help to grow innovation in Joburg and thus make Joburg the Leading African City of Innovation.
He emphasised that the ability to engage citizen through digital and mobile platforms are crucial in all technologies presented as solutions.
Three winning applications will be taken into rapid development and supported by Tshimologong’s virtual bootcamp and prototyping grant of R500 000 each. The award will be followed by the opportunity to take solutions into a pilot phase within the City.
This will be a collaborative effort between startups, corporate companies, investors, hubs, makerspaces, and government through the City of Johannesburg’s Smart City Office to support young innovators toward developing viable socially impactful solutions and businesses.
