Innovation Bridge a showcase for local innovations
Local entrepreneurs present new technologies to potential investors
Efforts to position South Africa and the continent as a global leader in the development and use of information and communications technology (ICT) to solve Africa’s challenges must be stepped up, said Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor.
The minister said that Africa has laid a strong foundation in the use of ICT in the public and private sectors, citing evidence that innovations that began in Africa are now spreading across the world. These include the use of dual simcard cellular phones and using mobile technologies for the remittance of payments.
Pandor addressed the recently held Innovation Bridge hosted by the department of science and technology (DST) in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). The second instalment of the Innovation Bridge dealt with technology matchmaking and highlighted the importance of focusing on youth, women and other marginalised sectors of society in leveraging ICT to promote socioeconomic development.
Building on the success of the first Innovation Bridge technology showcase and matchmaking event held in 2015, this year’s event focused on new measures to accelerate local innovation for commercialisation, and offered an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to present their innovative technologies to potential investors and commercial partners.
This year saw an impressive display of locally developed innovations that have been incubated at publicly funded institutions. From life-saving technology to high-tech communication solutions, the event featured over 100 innovations.
Government is committed to supporting innovation as part of its National Development Plan. The country’s public policy fosters socioeconomic growth and industry-science linkages through increased investment in research, human capital development, intellectual property and trade in high- tech industries.
“We need to really develop ways to build capacity, seize new ideas, nurture them and make sure [that] businesses are sustainable,” said Pandor.
She said there are many institutions with numerous opportunities around, but the reality is that there are still too many young people and women who have no access to them.
“We can change that by going to schools, universities, and rural areas. We should also create less complex institutions where young people can pitch their ideas and obtain assistance,” said the minister.
The minister added that people are the country’s greatest asset and government, the private sector, public institutions, traditional structures and civil society should pool all their efforts to serve the best interests of the people.
“Our youth must be exposed to the opportunities that will enable them to realise their full potential and exercise their creativity. We must hold hands to remove all barriers towards creating a pool of innovative young entrepreneurs who will lead us to a more inclusive and prosperous future,” she said.
Pandor also said that more needs to be done to ensure greater gender parity, despite the great strides that has been achieved towards this goal.
Keynote speaker Pavlo Phitidis, chief executive and co-founder of the Aurik Business Accelerator, lamented the country’s high unemployment rate and said South Africa had to reshape its economy to remain sustainable.
“Unless we get this right, anything we do is really of no value, and people need to be included in order for sustainability to come about,” he said.
Phitidis called for big business to invest in innovative technologies, for government to provide sound policy and leadership certainty, for civil society to demand standards and services, for labour to upskill, and for parents to insist on high standards of maths and science education.
The Innovation Bridge focuses on technologies developed in publicly funded South African research and development institutions such as universities and science councils, and by governmentfunded companies.
Potential funders and business partners had an opportunity to evaluate a range of new local innovations on show, including industrial isotope technology, construction polymers, higher-yield wind turbines, smart water metering systems and additive manufacturing technology for prosthetics and medical devices.
Many of the innovative technologies that were on display received funding and support from the DST’s entity the TIA. Established in 2008, the TIA was established as a public institution that would strengthen the country’s capacity to translate local research and development into technologybased products and services for socioeconomic development.
The institute’s primary focus is to provide early and secondstage funding, combined with non-financial support, taking into account that existing funding institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa typically focus on late stage funding.
The DST’s director general Dr Phil Mjwara said the event aimed to encourage and accelerate the utilisation and commercialisation of new and existing knowledge and technologies that have been developed in publicly funded South African research and development institutions.
He said that government has been providing support to universities, science councils and industries for innovations and ideas that can find niches in the market place.