daniel chigunwe
Nokuthula G Moyo-Muparuri
The last article about start-pp communities for science-based industrialisation emphasised the need to develop this strategy with a road map for each branch of science industry.
This article will discuss the following: significance of the ICT sector; making investments in ICT assets for local start-ups; developing legislation for the ICT manufacturing sector; establishing a diverse range of local information technology industries; importance of engineering and engineering management; instituting a fully diversified engineering sector; expanding the scope of local engineering industries; and developing the start-up community partnerships for ICT and engineering based industries.
Significance of the ICT sector
ICT, or information and communications technology (or technologies), is the infrastructure and components that enable modern computing. Among the goals of information communication technologies, tools and systems is to improve the way humans create, process and share data or information with each other.
Another is to help them improve their abilities in numerous areas, including business; education; medicine; real-world problem-solving; and even leisure activities related to sports, music, and movies.
ICT encompasses the internet-enabled sphere and the mobile one powered by wireless networks.
It includes antiquated technologies, such as landline telephones, radio and television broadcast all of which remain widely used alongside today’s cutting-edge ICT pieces, such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
The internet, internet of things, metaverse, virtual reality and social media are also part of ICT, as are cloud computing services, video conferencing and collaboration tools, unified communications systems and mobile communication networks. Emerging, work-in-progress or still-nascent technologies like 5G/6G, Web3, and quantum computing are also in the ICT universe.
For businesses, advances within ICT have brought cost savings, opportunities and conveniences. They include the following: Highly automated businesses processes that have cut costs; The big data revolution, where organizations are turning the vast trove of data generated by ICT into insights that drive new products and services; and ICT-enabled transactions such as internet shopping and telemedicine and social media that give customers more choices in how they shop, communicate and interact.
ICT play an important role in economic growth and in transforming societies by connecting ideas and people all over the world.
ICT boosts firms’ productivity by improving communication, enabling knowledge management and reducing production costs. This can bring social benefits by allowing generalised access to information and knowledge, while bringing people together even if they are geographically apart.
Making investments in ICT assets for local start-ups
There is need to develop policies which prioritize sourcing ICT assets locally before importing them from abroad. This will mean creating local talent capable of developing competitive ICT assets. ICT investment by asset types has three components; computer equipment, communications equipment and computer software and databases. Software includes acquisition of pre-packaged software, customised software and software developed in-house.
Developing legislation for the ICT manufacturing sector
The European Union and the United States have developed legislation, which is the European Chips Act, and the US CHIPS and Science Act, to strengthen their semiconductor manufacturing industries.
In the same vein the country can develop legislation to initiate the process of developing ICT manufacturing capacity. The country needs to introduce a phased approach to developing manufacturing capacity for ICT products.
This is because the ICT manufacturing sector plays a vital role in industrialised economies as ICT is a core driver and enabler of the rapidly progressing digital revolution.
Governments in many countries have proactively embraced the ICT revolutions for development and competitiveness by fostering digital transformation across sectors.
Establishing a diverse range of local Information Technology industries
There is need for policy makers to develop incentives which will ensure that a diverse range of IT industries are developed to enable start-ups to set up their own firms.
Firms should include those in cyber-security, software, hardware and equipment, Artificial Intelligence, data services, telecommunications, IT consultancy and robotics. Cyber-security focuses on protecting IT networks; computer systems and programmes form digital attacks, such as viruses and hackers.
The software industry is the sector that focuses on developing software products and software solutions. The hardware and equipment industry design and manufacture IT hardware. This includes computers, servers, storage devices and networking equipment.
Artificial Intelligence focuses on the design and production of smart machines. The data services industry relates to the storing, maintaining and use of data, often extremely large amounts of data.
The telecommunication industry focuses on implementing and maintaining communication networks. There are many services that fall under communications, such as internet providers, cellular networks, broadcast networks and emergency communication systems.
IT consultants work on contracts for clients to provide IT services. The Robotics industry creates machines that can take independent actions. Types of robots include robots used in factories and consumer robots used for entertainment or to complete daily tasks.
Importance of engineering and engineering management
Engineering is the application of Science and Mathematics to solve real-world problems, involving invention, innovation, designing and building.
Key branches include civil, mechanical, electrical, industrial and chemical engineering. Engineering plays a critical role in developing infrastructure like roads and buildings, advancing technology devices and furthering sustainable solutions.
It also contributes to economic growth by fuelling business investment through the production of new technologies.
Engineering management is crucial as it blends technical expertise with leadership and management skills. It enables successful completion of complex engineering projects, fosters innovation, improves efficiency and helps manage resources and risks effectively leading to societal development and progress.
Instituting a fully diversified engineering sector
There is need to institute a fully diversified engineering sector in the country by establishing all the branches of each of the engineering branches. Chemical engineering deals with chemicals and chemical processes in the broadest sense of the word.
Chemical engineers use scientific ideas from chemistry, biology, math, and physics to design and make materials and products. They might also develop new ways to use energy and transform it. Chemical engineers work with micro-organisms, food, drugs, and fuels.
Scientists often do experiments and other work in labs; many also use computers to plan experiments. Branches of chemical engineering are as follows: plastics; materials science; biomolecular engineering; biochemical engineering; paper science; metallurgical engineering; textile; nanoengineering; genetic engineering; and biomedical engineering/bioengineering.
Industrial engineering combines engineering with business practices to lower costs, improve quality, and make things work more efficiently.
These experts work in industries like service, entertainment, and healthcare. Industrial engineers’ main jobs may include designing buildings and information systems, keeping track of inventory, assigning workers, and ensuring the workplace is safe.
Branches of industrial engineering are as follows: fire (protection) and safety engineering; financial engineering; manufacturing/production engineering; systems engineering/science; operations research; supply chain management/engineering; safety engineering; and management science/engineering.
Civil engineering involves the design, construction, and maintenance of various large-scale-built environments.
The construction of new transport networks such as airports, roads, and railways are all part of civil engineering. Canals, dams, pipelines, sewerage systems, and commercial building structures all fall under the remit of civil engineering. Civil engineers will often work on large-scale projects in collaboration with various other professionals.
Branches of civil engineering are as follows: ecological engineering; transport/transportation engineering; environmental engineering; geotechnical engineering; mining engineering; structural engineering; construction management; architectural engineering; and water (resources) engineering.
Electrical engineering is a broad and diverse field. It involves any project where electricity is key to functionality.
Electrical engineers may work on vehicles, cars, planes, trains, and boats. They may be involved in domestic and commercial electrical systems or work in an electrical power station where electricity is generated.
Electrical engineering is a fast-moving area where new advancements in technology are continually demanding increased levels of electrical support.
Branches of electrical engineering are as follows: software engineering; computer engineering; electrical power engineering; network engineering; power systems engineering; electronic(s) engineering; optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering; and telecommunications engineering mechanical engineering involves the production and maintenance of machines.
This could involve motor vehicles, factory-based machinery or mechanical systems located in buildings such as air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems.
Mathematical theory plays an important part in mechanical engineering where a good knowledge of various formulas and physics-based calculations is required. Mechanical engineers will often undertake a high percentage of maintenance roles as machines must be kept in excellent working order.
Branches of mechanical engineering are as follows: Thermal engineering/science; robotics engineering; automotive engineering; marine engineering/naval architecture; ocean engineering; renewable energy engineering; astronautical engineering; aeronautical engineering; aerospace engineering; energy engineering; and acoustical/sound engineering
Expanding the scope of local engineering industries
There is need to expand the scope of engineering industries in the country by introducing those that have not been previously available and also providing services that have been previously outsourced. The country is always importing machinery and equipment, from other countries.
However, a phased approach can be adopted to develop local manufacturing capability. Industries that can be introduced or expanded should include aerospace, automotive, built environment, chemicals, Electronics, energy and power, fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and utilities.
The aerospace industry includes firms in the construction of helicopters, fighter jets, unmanned vehicles, commercial planes, space stations, rockets etc. fuel safety, reliability and environmental targets are all important considerations for the industry. Automotive industry is firm involved with motor vehicles, from mainstream and premium sports car manufacturers, to bus and coach manufacturers, to vehicle parts manufacturer.
Engineers must keep up with the latest technologies and meet customer expectation of vehicle performance, reliability, safety and durability.
Built environment is firms involved in the construction of houses, offices, schools, hospitals, stadiums, train stations, airports, roads, railways, bridges, tunnels dams, nuclear power stations and wind farms.
Chemicals industry includes firms covering a huge range of products, food and additives, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, plastics, batteries, paints, cosmetics, petrochemicals, metal refining, and so much more. Defence industries includes firms involved in equipment, support and services for the armed forces and national security, covering land, sea, and air as well as electronics and cyber security.
Electronics industries are those involved in semiconductor company manufacture such as designing chips, integrated circuits, resistors and capacitors, manufacture silicon. Consumer electronics companies take these components and design smart phones, medical scanners, TVs, washing machines, radios and unmanned vehicles.
Energy and power industries involve firms involved in generating power using oil, gas, wind, hydro, tidal, solar, biomass, nuclear etc. the industry is divided into three areas; generation, transmission and distribution, and metering and sales.
Oil and gas generation is split into upstream, downstream and chemicals. Upstream is about exploring and producing; downstream is refining, distributing and supplying products and chemicals is production and supply of petrochemical products.
Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries involved firms, which manufacture goods that fly off the production line onto shop shelves; food and cleaning products and cosmetics. Material and metals industries involve firms, which are procuring, innovating, manufacturing and selling raw materials that make up finished products such as skyscrapers, cards, chairs and drinks.
Pharmaceutical industries involve firms which research, develop, manufacture and sell medicines, vaccines and over the counter products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Rail industry is involved in train and freight operations.
These are companies which run trains, maintain the rail network, train stations, tracks, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, level crossings, and signals.
Utility industry are those firms involved in delivering energy, water, sewage treatment and telecoms to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals etc. many utilities companies have a monopoly in the area they operate in, so there are regulatory bodies in place to set frameworks e.g., water, electricity and telecoms.
Developing the start-up community partnerships for ICT and engineering based industries
The start-up community can develop partnerships that will bring together all the different actors critical to the development of start-ups in the ICT and engineering based industries. For the ICT based industries, these partners should include the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, and the financial institutions with a specific focus on the ICT based industries, and businesses in the ICT based industries.
The research institutes to partner with for the ICT sector is the informatics institute, which is within the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC). For the engineering based industries, these partners should include the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, the Industry Regulator, which is the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe.
The Writer Nokuthula G Moyo-Muparuri is a lecturer at the Midlands State University in the Faculty of Business Sciences. She is also the founder of the Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship. The mission of the institute is start-up/innovation skills development and start-up/innovation ecosystem development. The institute has established Zim start-up communities initiative, to capacitate those interested in establishing start-up communities in their towns, cities, colleges and universities. Those interested can contact the institute on +263718747621.
Bongani Ndlovu