Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technology of the future. It is already changing the way businesses operate, make decisions and develop new products and services. In Mauritius, the conversation is increasingly shifting towards how AI can be used not only to drive innovation, but also to build a more sustainable economy.
This was at the heart of a roundtable discussion organised by La Turbine on Tuesday, 4 August, as part of the Innovation Challenge 2026. Held under the theme “Harnessing AI for a Sustainable Mauritius,” the event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and other members of Mauritius’ innovation ecosystem.
Exploring AI’s potential for Mauritius
The roundtable was moderated by Marc Israel, an artificial intelligence expert and mentor at La Turbine. He was joined by Harry Coolen, Manager SME Banking at MCB; Anielle Carver, Sustainability Manager at ER Property; Caroline Rault, Chief Sustainability Officer at Eclosia Angel Fund; and Kam Li Fap Kien, Senior Business Strategy Manager at Blue Azurite Ltd
The panellists shared their experiences of working with businesses and explored the growing role of AI across different sectors. While the technology does certainly offer significant opportunities to improve productivity and encourage innovation, the discussion also highlighted the need to understand its limitations and potential risks.
For Mauritius, AI could play a role in addressing some of the country’s most pressing challenges, from energy and agriculture to healthcare, mobility and resource management. It also offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop solutions adapted to local needs, with the potential to expand beyond Mauritius into regional markets.
However, the discussion made one point clear: innovation should not be about adopting technology simply because it is new.The real value of AI lies in using it to solve meaningful problems and create solutions that deliver lasting benefits for businesses, communities and the environment.
Responsible innovation is key
For Swarna Gujadhur, Head of Operations at La Turbine, the Innovation Challenge is about finding the right balance between technological progress and responsibility.“AI is now a tool that needs to be understood and effectively harnessed,” she explained, while stressing the importance of responsible, ethical and inclusive development.
She added that the impact of artificial intelligence will extend beyond business and technology, with significant economic, social and environmental implications. “At La Turbine, we believe that the key challenge is to harness its full potential by developing responsible, useful and sustainable solutions capable of addressing the concrete challenges facing our society.” For Turbine, collaboration is also an important part of this process. Start-ups can bring creativity and agility, while established businesses, investors and institutions can provide expertise, resources and opportunities to help innovative solutions move from ideas to real-world applications. “We believe that innovation can only succeed through collective action. Start-ups bring agility and creativity, while businesses, investors and institutions provide them with expertise, resources and opportunities for deployment.” According to Swarna, La Turbine’s role is to create these connections and strengthen the collaboration between the different players in the ecosystem.
Supporting solutions with real-world impact
Through the Innovation Challenge 2026, La Turbine is looking to identify projects that respond to real challenges while demonstrating strong commercial potential and the ability to execute and deploy their solutions in Mauritius and the wider region.
The programme also aligns with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The projects supported through the initiative are expected to contribute to areas including sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship and skilled employment, technological innovation, sustainable communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, marine ecosystem protection and stronger partnerships between businesses, investors, universities, public institutions and entrepreneurs.
Among the SDGs highlighted are SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 on Climate Action, SDG 14 on Life Below Water and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.The focus reflects the broader ambition of the Innovation Challenge: to encourage innovation that is not only commercially viable, but also capable of creating positive economic, social and environmental impact.
A programme designed to connect start-ups and businesses
The Innovation Challenge 2026 will provide selected start-ups with a comprehensive pre-incubation programme.
The programme includes mentoring, strategic support, training, meetings with experts, thematic workshops and opportunities to collaborate with partner companies.Turbine’s objective is not only to support start-ups but also to create stronger links between the needs of established businesses and the innovation capabilities of emerging companies. The Innovation Challenge 2026 is supported by sponsors MCB, ER Group, Eclosia Angel Fund, Blue Azurite and ER Hospitality. The programme also benefits from the support of Axess, TGH Holdings and Journal des Archipels, as programme and media partners.
Key dates for the Innovation Challenge 2026
The programme will culminate in several key moments. The application deadline for the 2026 edition was 26 August 2026.
For the start-ups selected, the pre-incubation programme begins on 17 September 2026. The programme will culminate in several key moments. The Innovation Challenge Expo, taking place on 9 October 2026, will provide an opportunity for participating start-ups to meet partners, explore potential collaborations and identify new development opportunities. The programme will then lead to Pitch Day on 12 November 2026, when the selected projects will be presented to the jury and partners.
