Empire Partner Foundation launches SA tech week, awards programme

The Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) has today announced it is planning a tech week event, including an awards ceremony, to be run later this year.

The foundation says the awards will give South African innovators the chance to be recognised for their tech contributions at the inaugural event at the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg, in November.

The tech week and awards ceremony will see hundreds of tech innovators gather in Johannesburg from 6 to 11 November.

The South African Annual Tech for Innovation and Social Impact Awards will be hosted in collaboration with MICT SETA.

“The tech sector has become a major source of economic growth fueling the South African economy. As an innovation industry, the tech sector has impacted how everyone communicates and accesses information, distributes products and services, and addresses critical societal problems,” says EPF in statement.

The awards will recognise achievements across a range of categories. For this year’s event, awards will be given in the following: Lifetime achievement , Social impact creator, Young emerging innovator, Women in tech, and Leading tech solution.

To qualify, candidates should be a South African citizen, aged between 18 to 35 years, have a registered business in South Africa, and it must have be operational for a year to three years.

For the Lifetime Achievement honour, this award is intended for individuals with at least 10 years of documented accomplishments in technology who have had a significant impact on a large number of individuals and organisations.

Mikhial Mariemuthu, senior manager, EPF, comments: "This event provides an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work being done by individuals and organisations in the South African technology sector, who are making a difference in the world.

“We look forward to recognising and honoring the achievements of this year's nominees and winners."

“Nowhere else in South Africa do innovators in tech have the chance to meet face-to-face with some of the best investors from around the country, in one day, at one venue.”

Empire Partner Foundation, a youth-led, technology not-for-profit-organisation, says it is ‘on a mission to shape the future of tech in South Africa and its contribution to the economy’.