Think outside the building

Organisers of the summit describe this, as "a place of playfulness, interaction and experimentation; of smells, tastes and sounds as well as exciting visual displays."

Pioneer of open innovation Jan Van Mol, who founded the global online ideas factory, Ad!dict Lab, has been commissioned to launch the laboratory concept in South Africa. He will be running idea generation workshops for delegates and lending his expertise and international network of innovative thinkers to solving real-life business challenges for participating organisations.

High rewards for innovation

The value placed on useful new ideas is immediately apparent from the generous rewards on offer.

The SAB Foundation will provide a total of R2 million in funding for the most innovative and sustainable solutions for improving the lives of our most marginalised citizens, women, youth and people with disabilities living in rural areas.

Anglo Platinum is putting up R300 000 for the 'big idea', which will add more value or create new uses for the versatile platinum group of metals.

Prizes of Apple iPads and Mont Blanc pens are also on offer for break-through ideas.

Innovation in exhibit design

All exhibitors big and small have bought into the playful and experiential spirit of the Innovation Lab where piles of beer crates, panels made of alternative building materials and inflatable paper cushions or "dunnage bags" will be available to build and furnish their display areas.

South African information technology company, Gijima, will construct a working kitchen, eatery and virtual office where delegates can play with the latest communications gadgets. Sasol will be contributing a fully-stocked perfume laboratory where companies can conjure up unique blends that represent the "smell" of their brands.

The power and appeal of collaborative creativity will also be demonstrated by the Vaal University Technology's i2P project, which helps to generate ideas and bring them to physical reality through its 3D prototyping machines.

Among the examples of home-grown creativity on display will be working models of trucks and cars created from packaging materials by the Kasi3 team in Soweto and radios built into unusual casings, including waste materials and even gourds, by Solomon.

Food, live acts welcome Spring

Start-up companies, incubated by the IDC's Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII), will add a variety of tastes to the mix, including muffins baked on site, berries, nuts and pepperdews, while Zimbabwean scientist and inventor, William Gwata, will be demonstrating his remarkable pap-cooking machine, the Gwatamatic.

The Innovation Lab will provide a stage for live acts by performance artists and designers, an Idea Wall for spontaneous suggestions and informal spaces for participants to relax and exchange ideas while enjoying the beauties of nature.

The fourth SA Innovation Summit takes place from August 30 to September 1 2011. For more information, go to www.innovationsummit.co.za.