Following the launch of Nestle's Sub-Saharan Africa Innovation Challenge in Ghana, the Research and Development (R&D) Innovation Challenge of the company has flagged off same in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to Nestle, the innovation is part of the company's efforts to provide a platform for start-up businesses and promote local entrepreneurship as well as create innovative ideas to boost the market.
Speaking, the Nestle Chief Technology Officer, Stefan Palzer said the company collaborated with Kinaya Ventures for their Spring Fellowship Programme aimed at boosting the capacity of corporate start-up partnerships as well as digital entrepreneurship.
Palzer added that the innovation challenge urges universities in the Central and West African Countries to proffer solutions to business challenges.
While explaining the programme, Palzer said the selected teams including university teams would enter the accelerator programme with a view to commercialise their ideas.
"During the accelerator, the start-up and university teams will have access to Nestlé’s R&D expertise and infrastructure at the R&D Centre in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, including shared labs, kitchens and pilot-testing equipment.
"At the end of the accelerator, teams will have the opportunity to pitch their proof of concept to Nestlé management," he added.
Also speaking, Nestle Nigeria MD/CEO, Mauricio Alarcon said the challenge would support the sustainable development goals, as the challenge aims to help about 10 million youths across the world gain access to economic opportunities by 2030.
