Higher Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Frederick Shava says Zimbabwe is fully prepared to host the 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair on 11 December.
Speaking at the 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair, Press Briefing yesterday, Minister Shava said the Fair, which is built around the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, will highlight innovations that have moved beyond the prototype stage into products with commercial potential.
“The 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair is designed to showcase Zimbabwe’s cutting-edge innovations and technologies. It provides a national platform where prototypes are transformed into commercially viable products, directly contributing to our industrialisation agenda and the realisation of Vision 2030,” he said.
He emphasised that preparations for the exhibition were nearly complete, with institutions across the higher education sector already on board.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage. All key institutions universities, colleges, innovation hubs, industrial parks, and private-sector partners have confirmed their participation,” Shava said
He said the event is central to the government’s policy direction as the nation moves toward Vision 2030 and transitions from NDS1 to NDS2.
“The Fair supports Vision 2030 by accelerating innovation-led industrial growth. As we conclude NDS1 and transition to NDS2, Government will strengthen the commercialisation of research, deepen innovation ecosystems, and expand rural industrialisation through the hub-and-spoke model,” he said.
To ensure innovators do not stop at showcasing their products, Minister Shava said the government is placing strong emphasis on commercialisation.
“Government has directed that all funded innovations be closely monitored along their commercialisation journey. We are strengthening incubation frameworks, patent support, industrial testing facilities, and linkages with industry,” he said.
Youth participation is expected to be a major highlight, with the Ministry setting up a dedicated zone for young innovators.
“Youth exhibitors have a dedicated innovation zone, mentorship sessions with industry leaders, and pitching platforms to secure investment partnerships,” Shava said
Minister Shava said government is intensifying efforts to retain top talent in the innovation ecosystem.
“Government is expanding funding for innovation hubs, providing incentives for innovators, and supporting university spin-off companies,” he said.
Participation this year is expected to surpass previous editions, with full involvement from universities, polytechnics, vocational training centres, private innovators, development partners and the general public.
“Attendance will be significantly higher than in previous editions,” Minister Shava said.
Shava encouraged the nation to take pride in the progress being made within the country’s innovation ecosystem.
We invite all Zimbabweans to come and witness the ingenuity of our innovators. The future of our economy is being built in our institutions, our laboratories, and our innovation hubs,” he said.
“The Fair stands as a celebration of national talent and a demonstration of the new Zimbabwe an innovative, industrialising, and technologically competitive nation,” he said
Meanwhile, the innovation is expected to display a wide range of inventions, including technologies in health, agriculture, energy, engineering, ICT, robotics, clean technologies and artificial intelligence.
