Programme director, Ms Valerie Geen
Professor Colleen Vogel, Wits University
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
I would like to sincerely thank the National Business Initiative (NBI) for organising this breakfast engagement with members of the business community on an exciting area of work that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has prioritised in its ten year innovation plan. This breakfast is about an open dialogue and engagement between business and the department, and I look forward to your constructive comments and inputs on our priorities and plans.
A brief introduction to the ten year innovation plan for those of you not fully aware of what it entails:
The 10 year innovation plan builds on previous strategies of the Department of Science and Technology and aims to decisively address some key weaknesses in our science, technology, and innovation system that is hampering our ability to develop a strong society and economy based on the effective use and exploitation of knowledge. Some prefer to call this a knowledge based economy.
South Africa has a relatively strong research and development sector with some pioneering work taking place at our universities, science councils and industry. Just last week, the public learnt about positive findings on the Centre for AIDS Programme in South Africa (CAPRISA) microbicides trail, the development of a teabag that can cost effectively purify contaminated water, a partnership with industry on fuel cells, and not forgetting the exciting findings in paleontology. In addition, in a few days, we will be launching the new Centre of Excellence whose focus will be on climate and earth system science.
Notwithstanding our strengths, we have identified a number of challenges which we are addressing. These include the need to enhance our capacity to commercialise the exciting research and development happening in the science system, accelerate the development of high level human capital and building stronger links with the international science community. On the last issue, I look forward to getting the active support of NBI and all of its members in ensuring that South Africa wins the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) bid.
The SKA bid has the potential to continue the nation-building efforts started through our successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and to provide the catalyst to excite young South Africans into science and technology careers. I look forward to the day when South Africa produces the next Pele and Einstein.
One of the important features of the 10 year innovation plan was the introduction of five grand challenges for the South Africa national system of innovation. These grand challenges aim to provide a magnet where South Africa can target and build critical mass in key priority areas.
One of these is the need for science and technology to address environmental challenges and to protect our valuable natural resources within a broader paradigm of sustainable development. We call this the global change grand challenge. A central element of this grand challenge is a focus on climate change challenges which have now become a hot and topical issue for business.
As part of the programme this morning, you will receive more details on what we are planning to do under the umbrella of the global change grand challenge and one of its flagship initiatives, the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas.
Through the grand challenge we are planning to not only support the development of the next generation of researchers but also to contribute to the development of the next generation of leaders; leaders who have a deeper understanding and appreciation of environmental challenges and sustainability; leaders who are able to provide the necessary technical support and insight to support all sections of society, including industry and to ensure that we all become a solution to these challenges and not the cause of it.
As such, we are hoping to build a strong and long lasting partnership with industry and business on the global change grand challenge. This breakfast engagement is an important start and I hope it will not be the last.
We look forward to your comments and suggestions on what will soon be presented to you with the aim of looking at how we can enhance our plans and priorities.
In addition, we would like to start the engagement on how business can support and play a role in the success of the global change grand challenge as well as the broader ten year innovation plan.
Thank you.
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Keynote address by the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, at the launch of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas
