Nokia to sponsor the mobile stream at this year’s Global Forum

Debut of the Forum on African soil

Nokia today announced its sponsorship of the mobile stream at this year’s Global Innovation & Technology Entrepreneurship Forum. The Forum, a joint initiative between infoDev, a global innovation program within the World Bank, and the Department of Science and Technology South Africa,  will take place from 28^th – 30^th May in East London, South Africa – the first time it will be hosted on the continent.

In its fifth iteration, this year’s Forum is titled "Harnessing innovative entrepreneurship for social and economic growth". The Forum will facilitate learning, business matchmaking, strategy, and knowledge sharing, with a special focus on the needs of African entrepreneurs and innovators.

The stream sponsored by Nokia - Maximizing Mobile: Extending the Mobile Revolution - will take place on Day 2 of the Forum. The aim is to explore how locally relevant mobile solutions are being developed by and for the poorest, how to create viable business models to support this vibrant market segment and how to drive scale across emerging markets.

“Nokia has for many years been focused on driving the local innovation ecosystem in Africa,” says Gerard Brandjes, vice president Nokia South East Africa. “As a key mobile player on the continent, we are committed to working with partners to explore new ways in which mobile innovation and technologies can improve lives, be it in the area of education, health or livelihoods. We run many successful programs with local developers across Africa and, through our ongoing partnership with infoDev and DST South Africa, we are pleased to be part of this year’s Global Forum.”

In parallel to the Global Forum, Nokia will also host a one day developer bootcamp on the 27^th of May at the ICC East London, to offer training support to local developers on the Windows Phone 8 platform. This is in collaboration with Microsoft South Africa as we continue to build the Windows ecosystem and ensure locally relevant apps for the Nokia Lumia range of smartphones.