California market research and growth strategy consultancy Frost & Sullivan takes its Growth Innovation Leadership (GIL) congress back to Africa in August for its fifth consecutive year, arguing that the continent is on track to become an innovative adopter and pioneer of technologies in the coming decades. Innovation is now an essential ingredient for survival in the future business environment, both as an individual and as a company, the firm says.
GIL is Frost & Sullivan’s global flagship event, offered annually in 25 cities for a worldwide network of visionaries and thought leaders. More than 200 C-suite executives from across Africa are expected to convene for the one-day, invitation-only Africa edition on August 20 in Cape Town, South Africa. They will leverage game-changing technologies and mega trends, and explore the continent’s unlimited growth opportunities.
Africa will become an innovative adopter and pioneer of technologies because of its “unique operating environments,” Frost & Sullivan executives contend. Operations director Hendrik Malan explains that the continent’s lack of legacy systems and structures will allow companies to invent innovative applications for existing technologies.
“This is not only applicable to the telecommunications environment, but also to other industries like energy, healthcare, automotive, manufacturing and more. At Frost & Sullivan we are seeing a number of global players moving decision-making authority and research and development budget to Africa to take advantage of these opportunities. Convergence is a very real force to be reckoned with on the continent,” Malan says.
Convergence brings increased levels of operational and strategic complexities, which is why it is “absolutely essential” for executives to know the latest trends, and how other companies are dealing with the attendant challenges and opportunities, Malan notes. Companies must be prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, mega trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies
“The GIL congress is a perfect platform to address both these elements and enables executives to establish a platform for dealing with the uncertainties that increased levels of convergence will bring to all of our working and personal lives,” he says.
Highlights of GIL: Africa 2015 include:
· Connected industry case studies focusing on healthcare, automotive, chemicals and materials, food, energy and environment, and information and communication technologies;
· A presentation on core sectors of growth in Africa that are currently in focus for Japanese and Korean companies looking to invest in the continent;
· An interactive CEO panel; and
· Presentation of the 2015 GIL Award.
