Collaborations are important for learning and innovation. Collaborations involve relationships between individuals and between organizations within the ecosystem. The topic prepares participants to be able to effectively position themselves in a network of that supports actor bonds, activity links and resource ties.

Mindset plays an extremely important role in the innovation development process. The primary objective of the topic is to introduce the concept of mindset and how it is fundamental to successful innovations.

Access to finance is critical for innovators, at each stage of the innovation development process. Funding is often cited as one of the major challenges facing innovators and entrepreneurs in Africa.  The aim of the topic is to enhance participant understanding the different funding models, the best strategies for raising funds for product development and commercialization..

The topic presents different innovation thinking methods and their potential use in the innovation development process. The objective is to help participants rethink approaches in innovation and to unlock innovative solutions. The topic will focus on three distinct methods: i) Critical Thinking Skills ii) Creative Thinking Skills and iii) Systems Thinking Skills for innovation development.

New Product Development (NPD) the process of taking product or service from an idea to market. It includes all the activities that firms undertake when they develop and introduce new products. The aim of the topic is to provide participants with tools to be able to manage the inherent risks in NPD including the strategy of Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Design Thinking tools and techniques to help position the right product in the right market and to meet the right customer needs

The aim of the topic is to equip participants with the relevant skills and know-how to produce high quality, and potentially successful proposals.