DIGITAL LAB AFRICA IS JOINING TSHIMOLOGONG’S DIGITAL CONTENT HUB

Digital Lab Africa will integrate the Digital Content Hub launched on July, 9th at Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct!

Tshimologong, founded by Wits University has launched a Digital Content Hub, an incubator of innovative and creative audio-visual content, in partnership with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).

Established in 2016 in the vibrant inner-city district of Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct incubates digital entrepreneurs and grows the skills pipeline for the digital economy through collaboration with academia, corporates, government and entrepreneurs.

Thanks to a grant of AFD, Tshimologong will expand its activities to incorporate audiovisual content creation (animation, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, holograms, 360° video, web content, video games, applications, web series and music). This Digital Content Hub will be based at the Precinct in Braamfontein and managed by Tshimologong in collaboration with key players in the multimedia and cultural and creative industries sector in France.

This is the first investment by AFD in the area of digital innovation in Southern Africa and reflects the organisation’s new focus on financing cultural, creative and tech industries as key players in local economic development.

The idea of establishing a Digital Content Hub was born from an existing collaboration between Tshimologong and Digital Lab Africa. Tshimologong and IFAS have thus joined forces to integrate the existing Digital Lab Africa system within a new Digital Content Hub physical incubator project.

The new content incubator project will include:

  • Incorporation of training modules focused on content development in Tshimologong’s Skills Development Academy; French institutions will support Tshimologong in developing new curricula, training trainers and arranging exchanges of staff and students between France and South Africa;
  • Introduction of a two-year skills development programme focused on gaming and animation in order to develop a skills pipeline for the creative and digital economy;
  • Integration of Digital Lab Africa into Tshimologong’s existing start-up incubation programme.

By 2021, Tshimologong is expected to have fully incorporated digital content development into its activities in a self-sustainable manner.

Finally, Tshimologong is broadening its current partnership base to include South African and French companies with a view to fostering expertise exchange, skills transfer and business opportunities for French and African business.