Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor says the South African economy is attracting investments in the research and development space.<\/p>\n
The Minister also said that government has recognised that research-led innovation has immense potential to support job creation, new company formation and economic growth.<\/p>\n
The Minister said this when she participated in a debate on the country\u2019s economy under the theme \u201cBuilding collective action for inclusive growth\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Department of Science and Technology supports government\u2019s efforts to make South Africa a preferred destination for foreign investment in science, technology and innovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work being done to encourage international companies to establish their research and development facilities in South Africa is achieving positive results,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Minister lauded investments in the research and development, innovation and technology by the private sector.<\/p>\n
This includes:<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment will continue to work hard to promote relationships with global partners and to leverage foreign investment in science and technology in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe department is working with science councils, universities and the private sector to ensure effective implementation or our research development and innovation contribution to growth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She also said that next week, the National Advisory Council on Innovation is holding a symposium on Science, Technology and Innovation business investment in research and development.<\/p>\n
CSIR investing in innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n Minister Pandor said over the past four years, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) R300 million Technology Localisation Programme has assisted over 140 manufacturing companies.<\/p>\n She said one of the examples of the success of this programme includes the R6.3 million Casting Simulation Network that was launched in 2015 at the Vaal University of Technology.<\/p>\n She said the majority of South African foundries are SMEs, which are often family-owned businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cost of the simulation software is outside the means of most of these SMEs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe CSIR’s R500 million Industry Innovation Partnership encourages the private sector to invest more into research and development,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Minister said that CSIR’s Industry Innovation Partnership also enables strategic partnerships with small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).<\/p>\n She said Biotechnology SMMEs are using the recently launched R90 million bio manufacturing facilities at the CSIR.<\/p>\n \u201cSupport from CSIR scientists and engineers ensures that products meet the needs of the market. Examples of products developed are cosmetics incorporating natural extracts, magnetic microsphere technology used in life science applications, extracts from olives that are used in cosmetics and nutraceuticals, porridges that incorporate beneficial natural ingredients and cell culture reagents,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Forging international partnerships through the SKA project<\/strong><\/p>\n The Minister said, meanwhile, that the Square Kilometre Array is a sterling example of the value of global science partnerships.<\/p>\n The SKA is a \u20ac1.5 billion collaboration between South Africa and Australia to build the world\u2019s largest radio telescope.<\/p>\n She said that while 10 member countries are the cornerstone of the SKA, around 100 organisations across about 20 countries are participating in the design and development of the SKA.<\/p>\n \u201cWorld leading scientists and engineers are designing and developing a system that will require supercomputers faster than any in existence, and network technology that will generate more data traffic than the entire Internet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She said the funding for the SKA project in 2016-17 alone \u2013 most of which will go towards the construction of Meerkat – is R1 billion from the department\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n The Minister also said that SKA works with international partners to build its dishes and develop its big data infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe R630 million tender for the manufacture of the 64 MeerKAT antennas was awarded in 2014 to Stratosat Datacom (Pty) Ltd, a South African company, in a joint venture with US firm General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost 75% of the contract value will be spent in South Africa, including qualification testing, tooling design, and virtually all of the manufacturing, resulting in benefits and opportunities for local industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s fuel reserves are \u201csafe\u201d \u2013 but there\u2019s a R3.4 billion catch<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n South Africa alcohol consumption vs the world<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on South Africa<\/h3>\n