6.7 INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Closely related to support for human capacity building in ICTs is the facilitation of innovation, and R&D. This has its own policy focus due to the potential for job and wealth creation through innovation in ICTs, as well as creating opportunities to improve quality of life. The establishment of well resourced ‘tech parks, tech/innovation hubs, co-working spaces and accelerators which provide business incubation, access to skills and low cost ICT services to small businesses, are also an important component to support digital entrepreneurship and economic growth in Somalia. Currently there are three tech hubs in Somalia - in Hargeisa, Mogadishu, and Garowe. In addition regular events which bring together stakeholders in different settings are important in facilitating information exchange, networking, business development and capacity building. In 2018 three such events were held: • A Network Operators’ Group (SomNOG) conference, bringing technical engineers together to discuss, share experience and collaborate on developing expertise and competency in networking and Internet Technologies. • ICT Expo attended by ICT businesses, local domain registrars, academia and other stakeholders to network and make business. It is expected in the future the exhibition will attract major international tech companies. • Mogadishu Tech Summit: bringing together local tech innovators and tech hubs. The Ministry is also planning to launch a set of ICT Innovation Awards, where ICT excellence in government, private sector, women, youth, etc are recognized. 6.7.1 POLICY OBJECTIVES 1. The adoption of cutting edge emerging ICT applications and systems in Somalia is accelerated, including use of IOT, and big data. 2. The quantity of intellectual property outputs resulting from ICT research and development in Somalia increases 3. Increases in the number of jobs in the ICT sector are evident. 33