Phil Mjwara, research and technology collaboration agreement between Department
of Science and Technology and Airbus: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing
ceremony at the 2006 African Aerospace Defence (AAD)
21 September 2006
It is significant that South Africa's departments of science and technology
and trade and industry share this platform at this 2006 African Aerospace and
Defence Show where all that is sophisticated and technologically innovative in
the aerospace and aeronautics industry is on exhibition. It's a partnership
between government, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of
Trade and Industry (dti), Science Councils, Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) as well as industry partners. Our involvement must be taken as
indicative of just how serious South Africa's aspirations are of transforming
from a commodities based economy to a knowledge based economy.
We have a very clear idea of how we will become a knowledge economy. This
requires strong integration with global manufacturing supply chains and has to
be underpinned by a strong core of human capital that is scientists, engineers
and technology practitioners. This becomes possible with the kind of state
investments South Africa is making in research and development and the
incentives for private sector to increase its spending on Research and
Development (R&D). It becomes much more possible with the research flagship
activities prioritised in the national Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Strategy and international industry partners such as Airbus Military. Such
partnerships are vital in safeguarding and developing South Africa's competence
in the various fields associated with aerospace and aeronautics.
South Africa is already committed to modernising the economy and leveraging
procurement options to benefit and further develop local industry. We are not
starting from a zero-base. South Africa has already demonstrated innovative
technology capability with the design, development, testing and production of
the Rooivalk attack helicopter. The local industry is involved in manufacturing
and upgrading gas turbine engines, drive trains as well as electronics, primary
and secondary structure components to original equipment manufacturers. It is
also involved in production programmes in selected aviation-specific niches
including aircraft structural fabrication, composites, plastics and airline
interior systems.
South Africa already has research and development capacity in areas such as
semi solid metal forming of advanced metals such as titanium. We do recognise
the huge scope for building on our existing strengths. With the A400M
procurement contract by South Africa's Department of Defence, two local
companies, Denel and Aerosud are recognised as tier one suppliers into the
Airbus manufacturing base. We cannot afford to let this opportunity and
partnership rest there. There is an urgent need to use this opportunity to grow
the number of engineering firms and strengthen their competitive position to
participate more fully in the global share of aerospace manufacturing
contracts.
We believe that Airbus, a company whose success is built on its innovative
use of pioneering technology, is the best partner to support South Africa in
the rejuvenation of its aerospace capabilities including the all important
arena of turning R&D into new technologies, techniques and solutions.
In brief the nature of this relationship with Airbus is in terms of the
following aspects:
* collaboration on research and development in areas of mutual interest
within the aeronautics sector (the specific details will be agreed upon and
will vary from project to project)
* human capital development programmes, which will give opportunities for our
best engineering and science students to complete research projects and receive
related on the job training at Airbus and its associated European Aerospace
Centres of Competence
* this will also assist in increasing the number of qualified engineers and
scientists thus contributing towards the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills
Acquisition (JIPSA) initiative as well as contributing significantly to the
growth and development of our aerospace industry in South Africa.
This partnership with Airbus is certainly in line with the objectives of our
National Research and Development Strategy (NRDS) and it opens opportunities
for South African researchers to be able to conduct research that is relevant
and meets the specifications and requirements of the Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEM), it gives us the opportunity to further develop and build
our human capacity within the high-tech advanced manufacturing sector and the
opportunity to leverage international expertise with the aerospace
industry.
This memorandum of understanding is a culmination of on-going engagements
and team work by the DST, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR), the implementing unit for the advanced manufacturing technology
strategy and collaboration with the dti and the Aerospace Industry Support
Initiative (AISI).
It is indeed an exciting and moving moment for us to have come this far. We
will definitely take this opportunity with two hands, in order to derive
maximum benefit for South Africa out of this relationship with one of the
world's renowned aeronautics companies, Airbus.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
21 September 2006
