S Africa needs the pioneers of tomorrow

DURING his maiden Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, my colleague, the Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, spoke of the many headwinds facing our nation and the need for innovation and new thinking to boost our economic growth.

The push for greater innovation is happening throughout the country, and the Department of Science and Technology is leading the charge. “Even during our economic difficulties, we must continue to invest in research, development and innovation as an indispensable driver of social and economic progress.”

Accelerated and more inclusive social and economic progress should be the thing that drives all South Africans. The government, through the Nine-Point Plan, has laid a strong foundation to ensure greater economic growth in various vital sectors of the economy. The plan targets the key constraints to ensuring economic growth and job creation and sets out a series of interventions to overcome these constraints.

This Nine-Point Plan is being implemented across various sectors of the economy, and has highlighted the important role of science, technology and innovation in growing our economy.

The National Development Plan also identifies the important role of science, technology and innovation in achieving the country’s longer-term vision. Almost every facet of our daily lives is impacted by science and technology.

Technology is all around us and is ever-changing. Therefore research and investment in new innovations are essential. Our investment in science, technology and innovation ensures that we give our country a competitive edge and leads to greater prosperity, more entrepreneurs and jobs.

Through projects such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which is an international partnership to build the world’s largest radio telescope, South Africa is fast emerging as a premier destination for science, technology and innovation.

The potential economic benefits from the SKA are enormous and R134 million has already been spent on local suppliers for the construction of the MeerKAT and other related projects. The MeerKAT is the precursor to the SKA, and is by its own rights a mega radio telescope.

However, the real magic is happening at local level because of the commitment of the Department of Science and Technology to make science and technology accessible to all. Success stories include a local technology start-up in Philippi, which has successfully developed and piloted a nutrient recycling technology, which converts organic waste to animal feed.

Another innovation is in the agricultural sector where a revolutionary wheat-breeding platform is assisting South African wheat producers to increase their production and enhance food security for our people. Through its focus on increased drought and heat tolerance there will be the potential for higher yielding cultivars.

New technology is also shaking up the health sector. South African researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the MRC and the University of Pretoria have developed a low-cost Doppler ultrasound device, known as Umbiflow, which improves primary health care services for pregnant women.

A vital part of this drive for innovation is to ensure support to emerging SMMEs. These enterprises offer an important vehicle for sustainable social and economic inclusion, and their sustained success will ensure that we address poverty, inequality and unemployment. More than 70% of the SMMEs supported by the Department of Science and Technology are blackowned. Notable success stories include Elvema Nutrition, a black-owned SMME that offers clinical trial services and manufacturing of its in-house products. Their moringa-fortified products are being produced on a large scale.

Mamoa, a Midrand-based company, has developed a range of body care products, which is stocked by 17 pharmacies.

Another company making waves in this market is Ardhi, which has developed a skin nutrition body care range.These successes, together with numerous other innovations, are shaking up the South African market.

The development of skills and industrialisation is key to unlocking the economic potential of our region. A crucial part of this is ensuring that SADC nations partner with and benefit from the ICT and digital technology dividend.

Further afield we have been working to develop an ambitious Brics science, technology and innovation partnership. South Africa is also leading the development of an ambitious Brics big data programme.

These developments will ensure that South African science, technology and innovation remains at the cutting edge. However, just as important is cultivating the next generation of innovators and scientists. The NRF is tasked with growing the next generations of scientists and does this through significant funding support of honours, masters, and doctoral candidates.

Besides this, in 2005 the Department of Science and Technology started an internship programme which placed graduates (Bachelor’s, Honours and Master’s) in science, engineering, technology and innovation institutions.

To date, this internship programme has committed more than R300 million in support of 4 282 interns, most of whom are black (90%) and women (60%).

Most of them have gone on to secure employment, while others were supported to undertake further studies by the National Research Foundation. These young and innovative thinkers are at the forefront of driving the change we want to see – the pioneers of tomorrow.

Push for greater innovation is happening throughout SA

Naledi Pandor is Science and Technology Minister.