Microsoft 4Afrika and African Business magazine lead roundtable discussion on African innovation

With the theme "towards growth and development" the roundtable will explore how to create a conducive environment and an ecosystem for innovations in Africa. Conversation topics will include: developing solutions for innovations to drive social and economic growth in education, health and agriculture; Africa's mobile banking revolution; technology and innovation as levers for business growth; and the support role of intellectual and property and patents.

The Forum builds on several special reports published by African Business over the past years, and the magazine's philosophy to help shape the African agenda and to create the networks to fast-track this growth, as well as Microsoft 4Afrika's longstanding partnership with African innovators and ARIPO's efforts to increase awareness of intellectual property rights among developers. It aims to engage its participants as well as a wider audience via social media to develop solutions that can be communicated to policy-makers and business decision-makers.

Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of African Business magazine, stated: "The role of innovation in Africa is an important discussion that is being had across several channels. By having this intimate roundtable session we aim to contribute real ideas and real solutions that can be auctioned upon. We are pleased to have Microsoft 4Afrika and ARIPO on board this important forum and we hope to engage participants in the online community as well."

Tonia Kariuki, marketing director for Microsoft 4Afrika, commented: "The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative is a multi-year investment begun in February 2013 to help accelerate Africa's economic development to help improve its global competitiveness. Our specific focus is around affordable access, world-class skills and innovation by Africans, for Africans. We are looking forward to engaging with Africa's most innovative technology and business leaders at this Forum to discuss how together, we can work to unlock the potential of the people of Africa and ensure they have access to the tools they need to compete on the global stage."

The conversation can be followed on Twitter using #IAFkampala.

A full list of speakers and the agenda can be found on the event website here.

About African Business

African Business holds the title of bestselling pan-African business magazine and its award-winning team is widely respected for its editorial excellence. We provide the all-important tools enabling you to maintain a critical edge in a continent that is changing the world. Our special reports profile a wide range of sectors and industries including transport, energy, mining, construction, aviation and agriculture.

About Microsoft 4Afrika

The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative was launched in February 2013 to help accelerate Africa's economic development and to improve its global competitiveness. It is a long-term commitment to help empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers, and business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into a reality that can help their community, their country, the continent and beyond.

The 4Afrika Initiative is built on the dual beliefs that technology can accelerate growth for Africa, and Africa can also accelerate technology for the world. We want to help Africa become a net producer of technology, rather than a net consumer. We believe that African innovation can and should shape Africa's future.

4Afrika is tightly connected to Microsoft's network of more than 10,000 existing partners in Africa today, a network we have built through more than 20 years of investing and operating in the continent. Microsoft's business model is built on a strong partner network, globally, and Africa is no different. 4Afrika leverages these existing partnerships and is working to create new ones across the public and private sectors to help advance common goals and to create value for Africans, by Africans.