High-tech Scots excellence will help tens of millions of
farmers across Africa to solve animal health issues, Deputy First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon revealed yesterday.
Glasgow-based tech company Cojengo has teamed up with
software giant Microsoft to provide innovative diagnostic tools and disease
surveillance data for farmers in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and
Tanzania.
The
VetAfrica app, developed by Cojengo, enables vets, animal health workers and
rural farmers to quickly and accurately diagnose livestock illness and identify
which drugs are most effective to treat disease.
With over 100 million farmers spread across thousands of
square miles in East Africa, Cojengo predicts massive growth of mobile and
cloud tech solutions in its African markets.
Cojengo has received support and advice from Business
Gateway Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise, University of Strathclyde’s
Entrepreneurial Network and the Gabriel Investment Syndicate.
Ms
Sturgeon said:
“Scotland has a global reputation as an innovative
nation and Cojengo has expanded its horizons internationally to help transform
the lives of rural farmers on the African continent.
“Working with Microsoft, the company has embraced
and tapped into the mobile revolution sweeping Africa.
“Cojengo is a shining example of a new generation
of creative Scottish companies with the ambition and skills to create and grow
successful businesses.”
Craig Taylor, Managing Director, Cojengo
said:
“The amount of support we’ve received really
helped us develop and market the VetAfrica solution, allowing us to get the app
into the hands of those who need it most very quickly.
“Working in partnership with Microsoft and the
Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative we feel we can make a huge impact across Africa
and genuinely change lives for the better”
Derrick McCourt, General Manager, Public Sector,
Microsoft said:
“Microsoft in Scotland is committed to fostering
innovation and talent. Our Bizspark programme nurtures and accelerates over 100
start-up businesses in Scotland.
“We have been very impressed by Cojengo who built
the VetAfrica solution, with our support through the global Microsoft 4Africa
initiative. We are proud to help take Scottish innovation to the global stage
with smart use of technology that will improve economic growth and support the
livelihoods of rural African communities.”
Bill Cameron, Business Advisor, Business Gateway Glasgow
said:
“Cojengo is a tremendous example of the type of
young, exciting businesses that are benefitting from a coordinated network of
assistance from Scotland’s support services, including Business Gateway,
Scottish Enterprise, SDI and others.
“Through its relationship with a dedicated
Business Gateway growth adviser the company has accessed Business Gateway Start
Up and Building Better Business grants and specialist support to help take its
products to an international audience.”
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice
Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said:
“As a leading international technological
university, with close links to business and industry, we are proud to nurture
the entrepreneurial skills of our students, alumni and staff.
“The University was founded as a ‘place of
useful learning’ and we are delighted to support innovative new ventures
such as Cojengo – founded by graduates from our Computer and Information
Sciences Department – that could improve the lives of millions of farmers
in Africa.”
Mark Newlands, international sector head of technology
and engineering at Scottish Enterprise said:
“Cojengo is an exciting growth company that
clearly has the ambition to take its technology to global markets where not
only it can achieve great business success but has the potential to transform
the working lives of millions of farmers across Africa.
“It can be daunting to venture into vast new
emerging markets like Africa but with the right overseas market support and a
well-developed international trade strategy Scottish businesses like Cojengo
have the potential to open up significant trade opportunities for the very best
of Scottish technology and engineering companies.”
The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative
through which the company will actively engage in Africa’s economic
development to improve its global competitiveness.
Kenya – Population: 41 million. Number of people
working in agriculture: 71 per cent.
Uganda – Population: 35 million. Number of people
working in agriculture: 82 per cent.
Ethiopia – Population: 82 million. Number of
people working in agriculture: 80 per cent.
Tanzania - Population: 46 million. Number of people
working in agriculture: 80 per cent.