In 2018, the French Development Agency provided US$872,000 for the creation of an incubator in the digital content industry. This new commitment is focused on the gaming industry that has strong job and wealth creation potential.

The French Institute of South Africa renewed, Friday (April 8), the contract of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the University of Witwatersrand’s digital hub. The contract consecrates €450,000 financial support to the digital hub for the development of innovative and cultural industries, the creation of a video game studio incubator, and many other projects and programs. 

According to Lesley Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, South Africa needs to meet the demand “where creativity and digital meet.” “There's a massive demand for African aesthetics in creativity, the world is calling for digital content from Africa and we need to meet that demand,” she added. 

Through the video games incubator, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, AFD, and the French Institute want to foster the emergence of young talent in this digital sector with strong job and wealth creation potential. The incubator will provide startups active in the industry with access to training that will help them create market-ready products and develop their entrepreneurial and technical skills. 

The initial contract was signed by the French Development Bank, the French Institute, and the South African digital hub in 2018. The ZAR14 million (about US$872,000) financial support provided by the French institute helped Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct create an incubator for innovative and creative audiovisual content. The contract provided an avenue for collaboration between French and African experts in the animation, video, gaming, virtual reality, digital arts, and music industries.

Eary this year, investment bank Drake Star Partners published a report revealing the growing volume of funds being invested in the global gaming industry. This year, the industry is expected to attract US$150 billion of additional investments. There is thus an opportunity for Africa to attract a sizeable chunk of those investments. 

Ruben Tchounyabe