The Director-General of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Lionel October crowned the winners of the prestigious National Technology Awards hosted by the dti at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, under the theme Broadening Participation Through Technology, last night.
Mr October who congratulated all the winners and finalists at the ceremony, noted that government was going to up-scale these tried and tested programmes, referring to Seda Technology Programme (STP), The Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) and Technology And Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) from which all the finalists benefited.
“Partnerships and well-designed programmes like these three can bring a positive spin to the creation of jobs through the development of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs),” added October.
October told all the finalists that the country needs people like them, who will take the country to the next level, through technology.
The Incubator of the year’s winner, KwaZulu-Natal-based SmartXChange Centre of Excellence’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jonathan Naidoo said their commitment to the development of SMMEs and youth in particular makes the company unique and the award is a motivation to make them work even harder.
According to Naidoo, SmartXChange has been in the business for more than ten years, and they are looking for another decade of hard working with incubatees, in particular the youth. “We exist to develop and support Information Technology SMME's through world class incubation, skills development and encourage innovation and collaboration in the information and communications technology sector’’ adds Naidoo.
SmartXChange Centre of Excellence is one of the 12 companies which walked away with an award at the ceremony.
The purpose of the Awards is to raise awareness on the benefits of using technology to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that contributed towards technology development and innovation in South Africa. They are also aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity and technological innovativeness amongst business people by rewarding those that make use of technology to advance their business.
Seda Technology Programme (STP)
Category 1: Incubator of the year
Winner: SmartXchange
Runner-up: Furntech
Category 2: Fastest Growing Incubatee
Winner: Eco Furniture Design
Runner-up: Elijah Makhubela - Walda group
Category 3: Best Performing Quality Intervention
Winner: Thabong Bakery
Runner-up: Nomcebo consulting Enterprise t/a Nomcebo Printers
Category 4: Best Performing TTF Intervention
Winner: Excellence Motor Trimmers
Runner-up: G & T Autobody
Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII)
Category 1: Companies
Winner: Tugo Builds (Pty) Ltd
Runner-up: TMI Consultancy CC (t/a TMI Dynamatics)
Category 2: Medium Companies
Winner: Sintrex Integration Services (Pty) Ltd
Runner-up: Globetom (Pty) Ltd
Category 3: Large Companies
Winner: Magus (Pty) Ltd
Runner-up: Dynamic Commodities (Pty) Ltd
Category 4: Emerging BEE Enterprise
Winner: Tugo Builds (Pty) Ltd
Runner-up: TMI Consultancy CC (t/a TMI Dynamatics)
Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP)
Category 1: Human Resource Development-Quality and quantity of students
Winner: Prof JP Maree
Runner-up: Prof LF Petrik
Category 2: Competitiveness of the Industry Partner
Winner: Mr AS Jonker
Runner-up: Dr P Addison
Category 3: Outstanding Black Researcher
Winner: Dr LE Khotseng
Runner-up: Prof D Ramjugernath
Category 4: Advanced Hi-Tech
Winner: Prof BTJ Maharaj
Runner-up: Prof PJ Blignaut
The Incubator of the year’s winner: From Left: Chairperson of the SmartXChange Centre of Excellence Board-Mr Themba Nqcobo and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jonathan Naidoo holding their award at the ceremony.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
