23.4 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hubs The key driver for ICT is innovation to transform lives and grow economies. The ultimate objective is to develop Zimbabwe into a regional ICT innovation hub modelled around the acclaimed success models from India, Russia, Malaysia and other technologically advanced friendly states. Scope of Works a) Setting up the institutional framework for a national program to successfully implement innovation and entrepreneurship programs; b) Defining a comprehensive blueprint for the program; c) Securing the seed infrastructure, tools and facilities required to kick-start the program; and d) Coordinating and facilitating the initial launch. e) Offering citizenship to investors who make defined and significant investments into Zimbabwe’s ICT industry. This strategy is meant to position Zimbabwe as a regional information and communications technology (ICT) hub as part of its overall strategy to develop as a knowledge-based economy in the 21st century. f) The ICT services industry, including software, content, and ICT services, comprises socalled 'weightless' economic items that involve little or no trade cost. The ICT services industry will feature prominently in Zimbabwe’s future economic development, and this policy statement seeks to recognise this growing importance. g) “Today, to Out-Compute is to Out-Compete”. The Government of Zimbabwe therefore intends to promote the use of High-Performance Computing (HPC). HPC is without doubt a key enabling technology for many technologically advanced nations in the 21st century. Many countries world-wide are investing in HPC and this policy will promote investments in related infrastructure. Implementation strategies A broad-based program that includes all citizens will be started. The ICT SEPs will play a critical role in providing commercial services and infrastructure for Innovation. The ICT SEPs will use some of the outputs for Innovation as services. The strategies include:      Partnerships with leading ICT countries. Partnerships with organisations such as ITU, Silicon Valley, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSMA), India, China, Russia, Malaysia and other ICT advanced countries. Partnerships with Foundations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which actively promote and fund ICT. Attracting Skills – Offer Citizenships to ICT experts, market at Universities, offer PhD research benefits, for example a fund to start business upon graduation. Launch regional ICT innovation and entrepreneurship projects which, are done by teams or partnerships across borders to create critical mass, share ideas and increase the degree of innovation. SADC and AU based projects may be a starting point. 37