New White Paper puts emphasis on hi-tech
SCIENCE and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says South Africa stands ready to reap the benefits of global developments, such as rapid technological advancement and geopolitical and demographic shifts, with the Cabinet’s approval of the new White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation.
The new White Paper, which identifies the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a key focus, places science, technology and innovation (STI) at the centre of South Africa’s development agenda.
Kubayi-Ngubane is confident that, over the next 15 years, the new policy will chart a new path to unleashing South Africa’s full potential towards growing the role of STI, in a prosperous and inclusive society.
“The approval by the Cabinet positions the country to reap the benefits of global developments, such as rapid technological advancement and geopolitical and demographic shifts, while responding to threats associated with some global trends,” she said.
“Of all the technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence is poised to have the most disruptive impact on the place of humans in economic production,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.
“Our strategic priority is to invest in and leverage science and technology as instruments for growth, that can be sustained in the long run, to defeat poverty,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.
The department said South Africa made significant progress in growing its national system of innovation since the adoption of the first White Paper on Science and Technology in 1996.
“While the country has come a long way since then, a new White Paper had become vital to respond adequately to future we want to build.”
Reviews of the national system of innovation have found that the system is not inclusive. The department cited the number of women, particularly black women, in research, science, technology and innovation, being low.
“Society needs to embrace scientific research as an important element of creating a better world, characterised by low unemployment, and reduced poverty and inequality.”