M Mangena: Launch of Co-operation Framework on Innovation Systems
between Finland and South Africa

28 September 2006

Ambassador Heikki Tuunanen,
Excellencies,
Colleagues and friends,

The formal launch of the Co-operation Framework on Innovation Systems
between Finland and South Africa (COFISA) by my dear friend Ambassador Heikki
Tuunanen and myself is a truly landmark event, which reflects not only a
strategic impetus in the South Africa-Finland science and technology
partnership but also a qualitative deepening of the innovation policy discourse
within South Africa.

This initiative has its roots in many reciprocal visits and exchanges that
have been taking place between officials and experts in the two countries since
the year 2000. Perhaps more specifically, the decision to establish a
co-operation framework on innovation between Finland and South Africa was
confirmed during the visit of the Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade and
Development, Ms Paula Lehtom�ki to South Africa in 2004. During our meeting at
the time, the main focus of our discussion centred on the outstanding
achievements of the Finnish national system of innovation and the potential
opportunities for South Africa to leverage different elements of this
accumulated experience. We then agreed that a key thrust of the South
Africa-Finland science and technology co-operation should be in the area of
innovation systems, which would be supported by Finland's development
co-operation instruments amongst others.

Since that crucial exchange, relevant officials within my department, our
National Treasury and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland have invested
many hours of dedicated and hard work in developing the framework of the COFISA
instrument. Today as we celebrate the launch of this programme, we should also
applaud all those who have contributed to making this important joint
initiative possible.

The launch of COFISA also coincides with the first meeting in South Africa
of officials and experts who will design and map the activities of the project
for the next 30 months. Participating in this meeting will be a team from
Finland representing all the leading actors in the Finnish system of
innovation. Many of them have kindly joined us here tonight. Indeed we all look
forward to receiving the insights and expert advice on the COFISA at this
preliminary stage of the project.

Colleagues and friends, may I now very briefly allude to some of our
expectations in relation to COFISA. We do hope that the co-operation will have
real impact on certain developments associated with the South African National
System of Innovation (SANSI).

Since the establishment of the democratic government in 1994, significant
progress has been achieved in developing and implementing innovation policies
in South Africa. The development of policy instruments such as the White Paper
on Science and Technology and the National Research and Development Strategy,
the ongoing work of the National Advisory Council on innovation and South
Africa's participation in international innovation policy forums such as the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have all
contributed to strengthening the national innovation policy discourse.
Important initiatives such as a national technology foresight exercise,
sectoral technology road mapping exercises and a comprehensive national
research and development survey, including the OECD endorsed publication on
indicators are among our chief accomplishments.

However, there is substantial scope for further improvement of our national
system of innovation and a number of key challenges still need to be addressed.
These include in particular:

* ensuring the provision of appropriate science and technology human
capital
* improving the co-ordination of the governance framework within the national
system of innovation
* bridging the innovation chasm or translating our research outputs into
effective new products and services.

Other important domains where the contribution of COFISA could be pivotal
would be in the provincial innovation space and at local government level. With
the central role currently played by provincial and local governments in
service delivery and the fight against poverty, I believe the COFISA provincial
and local government interventions are timely and welcome. Indeed, the
envisaged COFISA pilot projects in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western
Cape have the potential to strategically impact positively on provincial and
local innovation processes such as the policy convergence dialogue and science
parks developments.

We also believe that COFISA could render invaluable support to science and
technology interventions for poverty alleviation. This is especially true when
we harness information and communication technologies to effectively address
socio-economic challenges. In this regard, Finland has already contributed
considerably to Africa's development. COFISA has the potential to augment
existing initiatives in poverty alleviation. But most importantly, through
customised interventions, it could enhance shared learning on making technology
and innovation work best for development.

South Africa and Finland's common objective to mainstream knowledge and
innovation as basic imperatives of the global struggle against poverty and
sustainable development has found expression in different international forums
and most notably, at the recent World Summit on the Information Society. In
this regard COFISA offers us a unique opportunity to demonstrate in practice
the logical interface between sustainable development and poverty alleviation,
and the innovative application of knowledge and technology.

I am convinced that the achievements we hope to derive from COFISA will
inspire other developing countries. We also believe that the approach we are
going to pilot under the auspices of COFISA will be incorporated into the
strategies of other donors and their partners within the region.

Within this context I would like to emphasise the appropriateness of
including within the COFISA exercise, a focus on shared learning with other
partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Southern Africa. In the forums of
the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) great premium is placed
on science, technology and innovation. Indeed the 2007 African Union Summit is
going to be devoted to this theme.

African leaders are convinced that science and technology, knowledge and
innovation are essential prerequisites for the growth and development of the
continent. Important national and regional investments are being made to
support for example, Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of
Action. I have no doubt that COFISA will also play an important part through
the envisaged shared learning in informing the continental and regional
innovation discourse.

May I, ladies and gentlemen, now briefly reflect on the subject of
partnership. I find it difficult to characterise appropriately the
Finland-South Africa science and technology partnership. Thus far, our
achievements in jointly hosting international events such as the highly
successful 2006 Knowledge for Africa's Development Conference, co-operation
within this context or developing the COFISA instrument have simply been
outstanding!

COFISA will be a true flagship of the South Africa-Finland strategic science
and technology partnership. More importantly, it will not be an isolated
once-off event. Soon it will be complemented by the South Africa�Finland
Information and Communication Technology Knowledge Partnership (SAFIPA), as
well as the special Finnish support programme for the Southern African
Biotechnology Node (SANBIO). It is a unique portfolio of commitments,
unparalleled in South Africa's international science and technology
co-operation.

In conclusion, may I acknowledge the invaluable support and pioneering
spirit of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in launching this new and
innovative development co-operation programme. I have no doubt that the COFISA
will strengthen South Africa's knowledge generation and innovation capacities,
ultimately support our struggle against poverty and enhance the objectives of
sustainable development. If successful, it could also become an important
benchmark for similar experiences in the developing world.

Ambassador Tuunanen, you can count on my department to fully and
successfully implement all these important initiatives. You have put your trust
in us and as true friends and partners we pledge not to disappoint you.

Finally, I wish all those tasked with the implementation of COFISA,
especially the Chief Technical Advisor from Finland, well in the challenges
ahead.

Please enjoy the evening with us.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
28 September 2006