Reserve Bank of Fiji Launches Fiji Innovation Hub’s Inaugural Activator 2026 Programme

Fiji’s push to build the next generation of innovators has taken a major step forward, with the Reserve Bank of Fiji officially launching the inaugural Activator 2026 programme through the Fiji Innovation Hub.

The launch, held in Suva on 30 April, brought together innovators, development partners, government representatives, and private sector leaders for what organisers described as the beginning of a nine-week, action-driven programme designed to help local founders transform ideas into tested, market-ready solutions.

The programme follows an intensive two-day bootcamp held on 28 and 29 April, where participating teams took part in workshops focused on problem definition, customer discovery, solution validation, and early-stage business modelling.

Opening the event, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Esala Masitabua, said the Activator was about far more than supporting individual startups.

“Fiji’s inaugural national Hackathon earlier this year showcased strong collaboration and the depth of local talent, but also underscored that ideas alone are not enough. Sustainable, scalable solutions require structure, discipline and ongoing support, which is precisely what the Activator is designed to provide.”

Mr Masitabua said the programme would help strengthen Fiji’s wider innovation ecosystem through what he described as the four pillars of innovation—capability, connectivity, culture, and capital.

He also encouraged participants to focus on progress over perfection, describing the Activator as an investment in Fiji’s future and a strong vote of confidence in local innovators.

The programme is being delivered through a flexible hybrid format, supported by AI-powered tools from day one, with teams expected to develop tested ventures over the next nine weeks with pathways toward partnerships, regulatory engagement, and investment readiness.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji also acknowledged the support of key partners behind the Fiji Innovation Hub, including the United Nations Pacific Digital Economy Programme, the European Union, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, as well as Mastercard, Ministry of Commerce and Business Development, Creative HQ, HFC Bank, and Fiji Airways.