Qualcomm is innovating big in the mobile device space. Now, it is moving into the electric vehicle space. We do know that the biggest stumbling block in the way of electric vehicles becoming commonplace is their limited range. A petrol or diesel powered car currently has roughly four to five times the range on a tank-full compared to an electric car with fully charged batteries.

Countries like UK and US have charging stations even on the highways to counter this. But stopping frequently to charge the batteries seems like a massive waste of time. And it is. So this new development by Qualcomm is like a godsend.

The company, known more for its semiconductor chips that power mobile phones, claims to have successfully demonstrated its wireless charging technology for cars. While others too are working on inductive charging for cars, Qualcomm’s system is said to work even on moving cars. Wireless charging is a feature found in some flagship mobile devices, so we’re not surprised Qualcomm has translated the technology for use in cars.

Qualcomm built a 100 meter track in France, where a Renault Kangoo EV was charged at up to 20 kilowatts while on the move at highway speeds. The tech promises to be able to charge a suitably equipped vehicle while moving in either direction. The track used for the test had been prepared with the source part embedded under the tarmac while the receiver was integrated into the car.

If the technology picks up and can be implemented on a large scale, electric vehicles might just become the norm. That is disruption and another source of technology licensing at massive scale for the chip maker.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria studies showed that only 21% of SMEs in Nigeria survive within 3 years. An now United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has validated that number.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Nigeria has called for the formulation of effective strategies to address the increasing inability of Small and Medium Enterprises to grow in the country.

According to the organisation, studies have shown that only 20 per cent of SMEs manage to survive in Nigeria.

The Coordinator, ARCEIT Programme, UNIDO ITPO, Bahrain, Mr. Afif Barhoumi, who made the observation at the opening ceremony of a four-day training programme organised by UNIDO ITPO Nigeria for selected Federal Government agencies, stressed the need for continuous enterprise development and investment promotion to key stakeholders.

“Although everybody in Nigeria desires to become an entrepreneur, only 40 per cent of the dreamers get to start, but no more than 20 per cent survive,” he said, adding that government Ministries, Departments and Agencies needed to entrench enterprise development and investment promotion as a key strategy to end the scourge.

“The training will also equip the SMEs with survival and growth skills needed to thrive and take advantage of investment and trade opportunities in local, regional and international business environments,” he added.

Government has to act to support SMES through enabling operating environment.

The Founder and Chairman of Fasmicro Group, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, will speak in the European Commission as follows:

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Dr Ekekwe will speak on emerging technology and innovation in the agriculture space. The title of his talk is “Abundance in our farms”. He will explain how the era of exponential food production is near in Africa with the convergence of affordable, accessible technology and bold entrepreneurs in the continent. Farming is becoming a business and these businesspeople will provide assured food security in the continent.

This session will seek to stimulate a discussion about the importance of bringing EU and pan-African agriculture into the third millennium and address how ‘farming 2.0’ innovation can improve food security and boost youth employment in a sector which has recently faced skills shortages and abandonment. It will look at how technology-driven farming can play a key role in agricultural development over the coming decades to ensure that we can feed the world, given that by 2050 the global population will surpass 9.5 billion and will require 50 % to 70 % more agricultural output to secure food for everyone.

Ecobank, the leading independent pan-African banking group, has announced the finalists in the ‘Ecobank Fintech Challenge,’ a competition for African technology start-ups launched in January 2017. The list includes 20 innovators from across the continent.

An Innovation Fair & Awards ceremony will honour the start-ups on June 21, 2017 at the global headquarters of Ecobank in Lomé, Togo. The awards ceremony also marks the official induction of all 20 start-ups into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship.

At the ceremony, the start-ups will exhibit and pitch their products to a jury for the ‘Ecobank Africa Fintech Prize’, which will be awarded the top innovator and two runners-up. In addition to fellowship program, the top three innovators will win cash prizes worth US$10,000, US$7,000, and US$5,000 respectively.

The 20 Ecobank Fintech Fellows will benefit from an opportunity to partner with the Ecobank Group that includes:

• Major start-up funding: worth up to US$500,000 for products that meet Ecobank’s investment criteria;

• Multinational product roll-out support: for the most commercially viable start-ups to launch their products across Ecobank’s 33 markets in Africa;

• Service provider & ecosystem partner deals: for start-ups with deep capabilities to become service partners within Ecobank’s ecosystem;

• Technical & mentoring support: during the one year fellowship period, fellows will benefit from technical support from Ecobank’s global network of technology leaders, fintech experts, investors and management coaches.

The 20 start-ups are:

Piggybank.ng (Nigeria),

Digi Teller (Ghana),

MobiTill (Kenya),

TEAM SAFEPAY (Kenya), 

Wallettec (South Africa),

Greenshoe (Kenya),

Invest Mobile (Ghana),

KUDI(Nigeria),

Wayagear Innovations Lagos (Nigeria),

Paylater OneFi (Nigeria),

PAYVITE (Algeria),

PurseNG (Nigeria), 

Shield Finance (Kenya),

IroFit(Nigeria),

Circle Group Savings and Investment (Kenya),

Inclusive Financial Technologies (Ghana),

Electronic Settlement Limited(Nigeria),

Social Lender(Nigeria),

General Marchant (United States),

Mi Nafa (Burkina Faso).

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed in partnership with the advisory firm Konfidants and supported by partners across Africa and the world.