The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative

Interviews conducted during the GIST Startup Boot Camp West Africa event. Dakar, Senegal, July 10-11, 2012

Creating economic prosperity through international scientific and technical collaboration

The Interviews

Audio podcast:  July 10^th interview with Dr. Jeffrey Margolis on the GIST initiative
Dr Jeffrey J. Margolis of the Department of State's Office of Science and Technology Cooperation provides a briefing on the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative.

Audio podcasts:  July 11 ^th Interviews with GIST Startup Boot Camp participants
Participants of the GIST Startup Boot Camp – from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria – discuss their technological products and their contribution to commerce and business in their countries as well as the value of the GIST initiative to the region.

About GIST

The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative forges links at the individual and institutional levels among technology entrepreneurs, angel investors, and the marketplace to improve quality of life through economic prosperity.

The GIST initiative builds entrepreneurial ecosystems in 43 countries across the Middle East, Central and South East Asia, and Africa by identifying, coaching, and funding the most promising entrepreneurs through its competitions, start-up acceleration services, online social media platform and interactive mentorship programs. The GIST Initiative is implemented by CRDF Global and funded by the U.S. Department of State.

In Africa, GIST is powered by LIONS@FRICA, a public-private partnership from the Office of Global Partnerships (S/GPI) that is a platform to promote economic innovation and entrepreneurship. 

GIST's Mission

To accelerate technology commercialization and entrepreneurship in the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South East Asia through global networking, entrepreneurship skill-building, mentorship and strategic funding.