The world owes its future to innovators

topic:	Innovation
editor:	Bob Koigi

It is tough being an innovator. Despite giving the world some of the most life changing innovations that continue to redefine modern day living while providing sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing problems globally, innovators continue to operate under a tough environment.

From Africa and the Middle East to Europe, this breed of modern-day problem solvers, a majority of which are young people, have transformed contemporary society with their larger-than-life solutions, from blockchain-based technologies that tackle land theft and corruption, applications that tame pilferage of drugs, drones that deliver blood and medical supplies in rough terrains, to technology that detects pneumonia three times faster than a doctor.

Yet it is more often than not a bumpy ride for them having to make do with arduous situations including bureaucracies in moving their innovations from concept to creation, gaps in funding and infringements of intellectual property that at times defeat their resolve.

But they soldier on aware of the ultimate calling, that of making the world a better place. And as the world faces a future where old threats persist even as new ones emerge at an alarming rate, from dangerous diseases, climate change and conflicts, innovators remain the world’s silver bullet. The unanimous cry from them is that governments are not doing enough to create a conducive environment for them, financial institutions do not have faith in them and the international community isn’t listening to them. This, despite endless calls from all quarters to embrace technology that solves 21st-century problems. If only the world would pay extra attention to the youthful innovators; our modern messiahs.

Image: Hans Braxmeier / Pixabay

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