M Mangena: Nanotechnology Innovation Centres launch

26 November 2007

Programme Director
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CSIR, Dr Sibusiso Sibisi
CEO of Mintek, Abiel Mngomezulu
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

An American Physicist, David Skyrme, asserts:

"Being smart does not inevitably result in being the best. Being more
creative does not automatically make you more innovative. Effective innovation
requires the translation of creative ideas into improved processes and or
commercially viable new products and services. Thus, creation is the starting
point of the innovation process, the generation of new knowledge that
subsequently needs converting and encapsulating into usable or marketable
forms."

The ever growing spending on Nanotechnology Research, both by governments
and corporate entities, enunciates the global view of the potential impact of
this technology on the global economy. Coupled to an estimate by the
independent research firm, Lux Research that by 2014, $2,6 trillion in
manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology, the evolution of this field
of science cannot be left to chance.

South Africa as a developing nation has a lot to benefit from the
development of nanotechnology. We must, therefore, create an environment that
is conducive to harnessing the potential benefits of this promising field of
science. It is in view of this that my department developed a nanoscience and
nanotechnology mapping strategy for this country. Among others, the strategy
seeks to position South Africa to take advantage of this technology and to
address social and economic issues germane to our situation.

Since the launch of this strategy in 2006, a lot has been done towards its
implementation. A strategy implementation plan has been developed for the
acquisition of the necessary research infrastructure to support our researchers
in this field. We are also working tirelessly to forge international relations
to enable our scientists to collaborate with their counterparts to tap on the
established expertise available internationally. Indeed, a host of programmes
have been put in place as part of the strategy implementation process, which is
now increasingly gathering momentum.

Significant in the strategy implementation process, ladies and gentlemen, is
the establishment of two Nanotechnology Innovation centres that we have
gathered here today to launch, marking a very important milestone in our quest
to use Nanotechnology to benefit society. Perhaps a very important question
that comes to mind as we launch these centres is: "What benefits does this
investment have for our nation?"

Apart from these centres being part of our ambitious vision to make science
work for society, they practically take us closer to using nanotechnology for
addressing some of our social and economic challenges. In line with the
Ten-year Plan on Innovation, the centres will provide a dedicated platform for
nanotechnology innovation. Their mandate is to focus on the research that has
pre-identified and tangible measurable. They will have to be the pace-setters
and catalysts of the country's research and development programme in
nanotechnology.

In particular, the outcome of the research conducted at these centres should
help develop, for example, low-cost filters to provide clean drinking water,
primary health care through the development of medical devices, drugs to detect
and treat diseases more effectively, and ensure the provision of clean, secure
and affordable energy. The collaboration between Mintek, which primarily
focuses on water and health research, and the CSIR Centre on Advanced Materials
and Energy, is a sure recipe to ensuring we succeed in all the programmes we
have envisaged.

In addition, there is a genuine expectation for Nanotechnology to assist in
the beneficiation of our natural resources, especially minerals. Therefore, the
centres will provide an enabling environment for harnessing the benefits of
nanotechnology. As part of their core mandate, these centres will have a strong
focus on human capital development to create a competitive and innovative
workforce for South Africa in this field. Human capital development is, to
borrow from Benjamin Franklin's words, "an investment that always pays the best
interest."

In our view, this is where we need to focus now if we are to realise the
returns on our investment in the future. A knowledge-based economy rests on a
foundation of knowledge workers in all scientific endeavours. Therefore, the
strategic relationship between the centres and Higher Education Institutions is
of utmost importance. In order to enhance the realisation of the goals we have
set in the Nanotechnology Strategy, partnerships between research institutions,
including these Innovation centres and industry are essential and encouraged.
They must work together in order to share both infrastructure and information.
Such partnerships ultimately ensure expeditious delivery by this
technology.

For this reason, we now call upon our businesses to take advantage of these
centres to conduct research for the enhancement of their competitiveness. The
goals we have set in the Nanotechnology Strategy will be in vain if they do not
provide an environment for enhancing our industries' economic competitiveness.
Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research and development activity that
brings together chemists, physicists, biotechnologists, engineers, etc. Its
implementation must be a joint responsibility if we are to realise its full
potential.

Owing to the promise of Nanotechnology to improving the quality of lives and
contributing to economic growth, my department remains committed to continuing
the support of these centres to assist them to develop into globally
competitive institutions. At the heart of Nanotechnology is the notion that
"Big things" could be achieved from a small world." Therefore, it is our belief
that the launch of these Nanotechnology Innovation centres is a small step
towards achieving "Big Things" in years to come.

Einstein is often cited as having said: "Not everything you count counts and
not everything that counts is counted." This is true about the intellectual
capital, which is the basis for a knowledge economy. Most companies are worth
several times more in market terms that their balance sheets indicate. After
allowing for market imperfections, or sentiment, the difference is essentially
intellectual capital.

Ten years ago, the average market to book value ratio for companies that
were particularly knowledge-intensive such as biochemical companies, was often
20 times or more than those of resource-based industries. It is clear,
therefore, that knowledge accounts for the intangible and enduring value of
companies. I am certain that the Nanotechnology Innovation centres we are
launching today will give us the edge we need for our knowledge to play an
enduring role in the economic growth of our country and the improvement of the
quality of life of our citizens.

It is now my singular pleasure to officially launch the Nanotechnology
Innovation centres.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
26 November 2007