ASTANA – The Silkroad Innovation Hub has launched SCALE2US: IT Outsourcing Bootcamp, aimed at enabling IT outsourcing companies from Central Eurasia to access the United States market. According to The Tech, reported on February 12, this educational program is focused on assisting IT firms with at least ten developers and substantial international experience, coupled with strong technical specialists.
The SCALE2US initiative targets core areas like sales and marketing development, practical engagement with U.S. clients, and creating business contacts within Silicon Valley. Participants will gain access to advanced sales strategies, significantly enhancing their global competitiveness and networking opportunities with potential U.S. partners. Applications for the program are open until March 15, signaling urgency for interested companies aiming to expand their horizons.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another ambitious initiative is taking shape. The Digital Explorers program, funded by the European Commission, connects tech talent from Africa directly to businesses within the Baltic region. The project focuses on addressing Skill shortages faced by the Baltic tech sector by fostering more engagement from African nations, especially Nigeria and Kenya. According to reports, the program aims to create beneficial connections, enhancing both regional economies.
Training has commenced at the Turing College data science school located in Vilnius, Lithuania, where 90 junior to mid-level data analysts from Africa have already been trained remotely. Following this tactical training, these analysts will be provided opportunities to travel to the Baltic area to engage with its burgeoning tech startup ecosystem. Žilvinas Švedkauskas, managing director at the Lithuanian think tank OSMOS, emphasized the unique partnerships formed through this initiative, stating, “We built the project around people, digital explorers and their digital journeys. We create connections…” This insight reveals the thoughtful approach behind the project, which seeks to make unexpected partnerships, such as those between countries with vastly different backgrounds and economies.
The Digital Explorers program has not only begun with Lithuania but expanded across all three Baltic countries, including Estonia and Latvia. Meanwhile, it has also reached out to Armenia within the Eurasian region. By focusing on nations like Nigeria and Kenya, the program hopes to replicate its success across the broader EU region.
Svedkauskas expressed confidence about the project, which aims to pilot these connections on global scales: “We are piloting first and foremost, seeing how these sorts of arrangements could work on a global scale,” he noted. This statement covers not just the immediate impacts, but also the long-term aspirations for international cooperation through digital technology.
For the prospective data analysts, the program includes internships for those relocated to the Baltic region for six-month terms. Scholarships are subsidized by the Digital Explorers initiative which also covers travel expenses, allowing participants to experience immersive opportunities within tech businesses. After the internship, there are options for trainees either to return home with support for reintegration or remain within the Baltics, where they are provided with avenues for long-term integration.
Since the launch of Digital Explorers, 53 trainees have successfully relocated to the Baltics, showcasing tangible outcomes of this cross-regional effort. Yet, this ambitious initiative does not come without its challenges. Švedkauskas acknowledged these obstacles, emphasizing the need for “advocacy and informed persuasion” to overcome barriers hindering relocation efforts. He warned, “The picture is not all rosy. Immigration regulations are becoming increasingly strict, making relocations and people-to-people exchange challenging, to say the least.”
Adding to this conversation, Mercy Kimalat, CEO of the Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), who serves as a visiting ambassador within the Digital Explorers program, reflected on the potential impacts: “The startup ecosystem in the Baltics is impressively mature and stable, but it still needs to continue to grow and innovate.” Her insight highlights the mutual benefit such partnerships could generate, bringing fresh ideas and talent to rapidly developing tech fields.
Kimalat also pointed out the challenges both Kenya’s and the Baltics’ entrepreneurial environments face today ranging from inflation increases to regional political tensions. She stated, “It is inspiring to learn how different startup ecosystems continue to thrive and encourage growth.” This remark encapsulates the spirit of these international efforts, as regions look to join hands for tomorrow's technological breakthroughs.
The confluence of these initiatives demonstrates the growing necessity for global partnerships to nurture tech talent effectively. Programs like SCALE2US and Digital Explorers not only bridge skills gaps but also encourage international collaboration, setting the foundation for innovative solutions to emerge within the rapidly advancing tech world.