The stage is set for the third edition of Freetown Innovation Week (FIW) 2025, one of Sierra Leone’s most dynamic platforms for entrepreneurship, creativity, and development. Slated for July 1st to 4th, this year’s event will bring together innovators, policymakers, investors, and changemakers under the powerful theme: “Unleashing Creativity, Igniting Ideas, Inspiring Change.”
Organized by Innovation SL, FIW 2025 will span two key venues — Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (July 1–3) and the Bank Complex in Kingtom (July 4) — with a focus on five critical themes shaping the country’s future: Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change (with emphasis on women and girls), Human Capital Development, Food Innovation, and Finance & Investment Readiness under the banner “Ready Salone.”
Day 1: Artificial Intelligence for Development
Date: Tuesday, July 1Venue: Limkokwing University of Creative TechnologyFocus: Education, Agriculture, Sustainability
FIW 2025 kicks off with a deep dive into the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Sierra Leone’s development. The day will feature discussions on ethical AI, smart farming, and digital learning tools.
Highlights include:
Opening ceremony with key stakeholders and Innovation SL leadership.
Panel discussion on “The Ethical Use of Generative Technologies (AI/ChatGPT) in Sierra Leone”.
Tech demos and exhibitions showcasing local AI applications in agriculture, education, and sustainability.
Day 2: Ready Salone – Finance, Investment & Entrepreneurship
Date: Wednesday, July 2Venue: Limkokwing UniversityFocus: Startups, Capital Access, Ecosystem Strengthening
Day two shifts attention to financing and entrepreneurship, targeting gaps between early-stage startups and investors.
Key activities:
Startup Pitch Competition featuring youth-led innovations.
Angel Investment Symposium exploring local capital mobilization.
Sector panels on youth enterprise, digital economy, green innovation, and funding access.
Networking exhibitions linking startups with investors, donors, and private sector actors.
Day 3: Women & Climate Change + Human Capital Development
Date: Thursday, July 3Venue: Limkokwing UniversityMorning Focus: Gender & Climate ResilienceAfternoon Focus: Skills & The Future of Work
The morning begins with a crucial dialogue on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and girls and highlights grassroots innovations led by women.
Sessions include:
A high-level panel on gendered climate impacts.
Showcases of community-driven solutions for environmental resilience.
In the afternoon, attention turns to Human Capital Development, under the theme “The Future of Work – Skills for the Next Generation.
”Key topics:Skills mapping and future workforce demands.
Inclusive education and assistive technologies.
Cross-sector collaboration to bridge the skills gap.
Day 4: Food Innovation & Closing Ceremony
Date: Friday, July 4Venue: Bank Complex, Kingtom
FIW 2025 concludes with a full day dedicated to Food Innovation, a pressing area as Sierra Leone navigates food security challenges amid climate and population pressures.
Activities include:
Panel discussion on the value of food innovation in sustainable development.
Exhibitions from food entrepreneurs showcasing local solutions in processing, packaging, and nutrition.
Food tasting experiences and stakeholder reflections to close the week.
Why Freetown Innovation Week MattersMore than just an event, Freetown Innovation Week is a national platform that bridges ideas with action and connects innovators to opportunity. By uniting voices from startups, academia, civil society, international agencies, and government, FIW fosters a thriving innovation ecosystem aligned with Sierra Leone’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — notably SDG 4 (Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Innovation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
With its growing reputation and multi-stakeholder support, FIW 2025 promises to be a turning point for inclusive innovation and socio-economic transformation in Sierra Leone.
For more information: Visit: www.freetowninnovationweek.com
Email: fiw@freetowninnovation.com
Contact: +232 78 474957
