Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa, at the reception hosted
to mark his visit to Belgium, Sheraton Brussels Hotel and Towers
26 October 2006
Ambassador Sooklal
Dear honoured guests
Colleagues and friends
International co-operation is one the cornerstones of South Africa's
national Research and Development Strategy. Indeed, we firmly believe that
knowledge generation is a global pursuit. We are convinced that mutual
learning, a sharing of experience, the pooling of expertise and joining of
efforts across borders are essential.
South Africa needs and is committed to, international co-operation for the
purposes of growing our own national System of Innovation and advancing global
sustainable development through the generation and application of
knowledge.
Since South Africa became a democracy in 1994, we have spared no effort in
developing international scientific and technological relations with friends
and partners across the world. Notwithstanding a number of vibrant and useful
international partnerships, which form our collaboration network, few
destinations are more important to us than Brussels.
I am, thus, very pleased to be here with you in the capital of the European
Union (EU), of Belgium and of Flanders. Indeed, as the seat of the Department
of the Economy, Science and Innovation of the Government of Flanders, as well
as of the Directorates-General for Research, Information Society, Enterprise
and Development of the European Commission, it is vital for me to call at the
home of some of our most valued international friends and partners.
Tonight, I would very briefly like to share with you some perspectives on
our co-operation. Earlier this year, on the occasion of the visit to South
Africa by Ms Fientje Moerman, Vice-President of the Flemish Government and
Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade, we
were privileged to celebrate a decade of scientific co-operation between South
Africa and Flanders.
Following a common review of our co-operation, South Africa and Flanders
resolutely agreed, that over the past ten years, a unique and mutually
beneficial partnership had been built. Since 1996, as part of our programme of
co-operation, no fewer than 97 collaborative Research and Development projects
between South African and Flemish research groups had been jointly funded by
our governments.
These projects span all major disciplines. And whilst their specific
scientific outputs are impressive, they have also created a deep and lasting
network of friendships and partnerships between our research communities. There
could not have been a more valuable return on our investments than this
concrete support to human capital capacities.
When I met with Minister Moerman in Cape Town earlier this year and it is at
her invitation that I am now visiting Belgium, we also agreed that there were
many opportunities for strengthening our relations further and our
administrations are currently working to achieve this objective.
The exciting potential for enhanced co-operation is perhaps best illustrated
by Flanders' contribution, through the Catholic University of Leuven, to the
development of sensor and communication technology for South Africa's new low
earth orbiting satellite, SUMBANDILAsat, to be launched at the end of the
year.
I now briefly want to turn to the science and technology co-operation
between South Africa and the European Union. In December this year, we will be
celebrating the tenth anniversary of the signing of our Agreement on
Co-operation in Science and Technology. I am fond of reminding my colleagues in
government, whenever South Africa and the European Union are considering a new
strategic partnership, that this Agreement was the first ever formal treaty
concluded between South Africa and the EU. As in many other instances, science
and technology have indeed paved and showed the way for relations in other
areas.
Starting with our participation in the Fourth Framework Programme, and
bearing in mind that all statistics on the sixth Framework Programme are not
yet available, we currently calculate the number of South African
participations in all Framework Programmes to be close to 200. Indeed, over the
years, an important portfolio of partnerships has been developed especially in
domains such as the environmental and life sciences.
As with our collaboration with Flanders, South Africa's participation in the
Framework Programmes is decisively strengthening our science and technology
capacities. At the moment, South Africa performs roughly 0,5% of global
Research and Development. It is therefore imperative for us to connect to
global activities, and the Framework Programmes are a primary instrument
towards achieving this objective.
In this context, we look forward with anticipation to the seventh Framework
Programme (FP7). We are hopeful an optimal enabling environment will be created
under FP7 for South Africa and other developing countries to continue to
contribute, in a mutually beneficial manner, to a unique global knowledge
generation effort. Through the European South African Science and Technology
Advancement Programme (ESASTAP), South Africa is actively preparing for these
opportunities.
The South Africa�European Union science and technology partnership also
comprises many dimensions other than the Framework Programmes. Other
collaborations include, the emerging information society dialogue, our
co-operation with the EU as members of the African Union and the Africa,
Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, as well as collaboration in global
forums such as the Group on Earth Observations. In this context, I should
highlight our shared conviction that science and technology is a fundamental
instrument for sustainable development and the fight against poverty.
Unlike the more intricate political and trade relations, science and
technology is often a good news story. This also holds true for South Africa's
relationship with the European Union. However, despite our successes of the
past, I would like to urge a renewed and committed effort on both sides to work
towards broadening and deepening our relations. As with Flanders, the
possibilities are endless.
I would like to conclude with a message that is very dear to my heart. The
creation of new knowledge and its translation, through innovation, into new
products and services should, in the first instance, be about creating a
better, more equitable and caring world. I have no doubt that our partners in
the European Union and Flanders share this conviction.
One of the major engagements during my visit to Belgium will be my visit
together with Minister Moerman to the Flanders Science Festival Exhibition in
which South Africa is also participating. The Flanders Science Festival, indeed
the entire Flanders Science Week, is inspiring models of how to promote a
vibrant interest in science and technology among the youth. South Africans are
keen to learn from such events in order to improve our own programmes.
We value this opportunity. A better world we are all striving towards
requiring our young people everywhere to be adequately empowered to face the
future with confidence. Current challenges plaguing our planet present
opportunities for future scientific inquiry and technological innovation. We
need to create enabling conditions to enable our children to thrive.
I thank you for your attention.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
26 October 2006
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
