Presidential Innovation Fair 2025

Zimbabwe opens the 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair, showcasing homegrown technologies and driving research commercialization (image source)

Harare — Preparations for the 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair are now at an advanced stage, with universities, colleges, innovation hubs and private-sector partners confirming participation ahead of tomorrow’s opening. Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava said the third edition of the fair is being positioned as a strategic platform to drive research commercialisation, inform Vision 2030 priorities and shape the forthcoming National Development Strategy 2.

The exhibition will feature a broad range of homegrown technologies developed under the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, with solutions spanning health, agriculture, energy, engineering, ICT, robotics, clean technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Organisers say the focus is on innovations that are technically viable and ready for pilot testing, scaling and market entry.

A key theme of the fair is accelerating the conversion of prototypes into viable enterprises. The ministry has directed that all publicly funded innovations be channelled through a formal commercialisation pipeline involving strengthened incubation systems, access to industrial testing facilities, patent support and structured engagement with industry. Shava said the goal is for each showcased innovation to demonstrate a credible path toward job creation, export generation and economic value.

Youth entrepreneurship and rural development will feature prominently. A youth zone will give start-ups and student innovators a platform to pitch to investors and secure mentorship, while rural industrialisation will be promoted through a hub-and-spoke model. Technologies suited for agro-processing, renewable energy and small-scale manufacturing will be assessed for deployment in district-level hubs aimed at supporting local value chains and decentralising industrial activity.

The programme includes investor pitch sessions, sector-based roundtables and policy dialogues designed to link researchers with financiers. Venture capital firms, development finance institutions and corporate procurement units are expected to examine commercial potential and discuss funding structures. Masterclasses will cover intellectual property management, regulatory requirements and export readiness.

Government agencies will use the fair to announce targeted support mechanisms, including pilot funding windows, tax incentives for local manufacturing and priority access to public procurement for innovations aligned with national priorities. Officials say successful pilot projects may be incorporated into public programmes to create predictable demand and support early-stage enterprises.

Organisers acknowledge persistent challenges, including power reliability, logistics and the need for consistent policy frameworks. To address these issues, the fair will highlight partnerships that blend private capital, donor support and government guarantees. Skills development will also be emphasised, with commitments to technical training and apprenticeships tied to commercial projects.

As Zimbabwe moves to deepen its industrial base, the Presidential Innovation Fair aims to serve as a catalytic event that aligns research, investment and policy. For innovators, investors and policymakers attending tomorrow, the test will be whether the fair can translate ideas into enterprises that generate jobs, boost exports and help advance the country’s long-term development goals.