SA concludes partnership deal to establish 4IR centre

THE accord signed by South Africa and the World Economic Forum (WEF) paves the way for the country to join China, India and Japan in launching an affiliate Centre of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).

The WEF established the C4IR in San Francisco, US, in March 2017 as a hub for global, multi-stakeholder co-operation to develop policy frameworks and advance collaborations that accelerate the benefits of science and technology.

Affiliate centres focus on issues of local concern, but also contribute to the overall research and thought leadership processes of the C4IR network.

Processes are under way to expand the C4IR network with affiliate centres in several other jurisdictions.

The Department of Science and Technology intends to establish its affiliate centre as a public-private partnership based at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

South Africa will launch its affiliate centre during the WEF Africa meeting in Cape Town in September.

Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has welcomed the signing of the accord, saying: “This is the culmination of extensive negotiations that started a year ago and marks a very important milestone in the partnership, and the beginning of a long and exciting journey together.

“It is no longer possible to discuss economic development without factoring in the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the economy as whole.

“Any effort we make as a country to grow our economy will now largely be shaped by how quickly we are able to embrace and master the technologies associated with the 4IR.”

Kubayi-Ngubane said this irreversible global transformation was taking place in the context of a country faced with poverty, inequality and unemployment, and that the country’s approach to the 4IR had to be responsive to these developmental challenges.

WEF’s C4IR network head Murat Sönmez said the world could not continue to rely on history to tell us what was happening; it must get things done.

He described the WEF C4IR as a “do-tank and not a think-tank”.

He said technology in the 4IR environment was advancing rapidly, and that countries and their regulatory frameworks could not keep pace with developments.

“South Africa has the potential to contribute to all these developments in the global network and have a seat on the C4IR advisory board, helping to shape what we are intent on achieving.

“We are therefore looking forward to hosting this affiliate centre in South Africa.”

CSIR chief executive Dr Thulani Dlamini said the council was ready to partner with the private and public sectors to develop relevant technologies for 4IR.

He said the CSIR’s focus areas for 4IR included applying technologies for improved service delivery, training the future workforce and developing and implementing scalable infrastructure.

Any effort to grow our economy will be shaped by technology Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane Science and Technology Minister