Partnership
23 November 2007
South Africa's Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena and his
European Union counterpart, Commissioner Janez Potocnik, celebrate 10 years of
a successful partnership in science and technology.
Minister Mangena and Commissioner Potocnik will deliver keynote addresses at
the celebratory event to mark the 10th anniversary of an intergovernmental
agreement between South Africa and the European Union (EU).
Signed in 1996, the Agreement on Science and Technology Co-operation affords
South Africa researchers the opportunity to participate fully in the EU's
Framework Programmes for Research and Technology Development.
The partnership complemented the longstanding political, economic and
development co-operation ties between the two parties. The European South
Africa Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) is a special
initiative implemented by the South African Department of Science and
Technology and jointly funded by the European Commission to support South
Africa's participation in the framework programmes.
Through enhanced networking and partnering, enabled by ESASTAP, scientists
from the European Union and South Africa jointly explore new and emerging
scientific and technological areas and needs and co-operatively seek to resolve
major global issues. These include climate change, energy and HIV and AIDS,
with the European Developing Country Clinical Trial Partnership Programme
(EDCTP) African, office based in Cape Town at the Medical Research Council
(MRC).
So far, South Africa's researchers have participated in more than 200
Framework Programme projects, and in other EU related programmes. Among other
projects, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) represents
South Africa in the sixth Framework Programme (FP6) project.
This project is aimed at demonstrating that solar disinfection (SODIS) of
drinking water is an effective, appropriate and acceptable intervention against
waterborne diseases. The project had been awarded R17,6 million research grant
from the EU to benefit vulnerable communities in developing countries who
normally do not have a reliable, safe water supply, as well as those
communities exposed to natural or man-made disasters.
It is expected to make a contribution to reducing the number of fatal
casualties, especially among sub-Sahara African children under the age of five,
who fall victim to diarrhoeal diseases as a result of being exposed to
contaminated water.
Minister Mangena will also hand certificates to the National Contact Points.
These are experts who at a technical level advance the science and technology
relationship through advising and guiding the country's research community to
draw on the Framework Programme opportunities.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 28 November 2007 at 12h30 to 14h00
in the Cape Milner Hotel, Cape Town
Enquiries:
Celeste Tema
E-mail: celeste.tema@dst.gov.za
Cell: 083 399 0765
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
23 November 2007
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
