The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is hosting a workshop in Pretoria today, 23 June 2009, to explore the strengthening of innovation systems in the country's provinces.
To be held at the Innovation Hub, the workshop themed “building capacity and collaborative networks at a regional level”, is part of the DST's programme, the regional innovations systems, developed to strengthen innovation capacity in provinces.
A regional innovation system refers to how businesses, institutions and government (Triple Helix) jointly and individually play a part in promoting innovation processes within a province and have a key role to play in economic development and national competitiveness.
Thus, linkages between these various bodies are essential for turning knowledge into a competitive advantage to local economic development and strategies associated with innovation, applied to create jobs for people who lack advanced education and skills typical of the knowledge economy.
The Department's Regional Innovation Systems Strategic Framework (RISSF) provides broad guidelines for partners at a local level to further enhance and develop their own systems.
Delegates will present innovation knowledge and feedback on similar activities such as in Limpopo, the Western Cape, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape.
They will also be given an updated report on the Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa (COFISA) and obtain a summary of the 2008 science, technology and innovation scoreboard.
For more information contact:
Johan Strauss
Tel: 021 487 4603
Cell: 082 523 4916
E-mail johan.strauss@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
23 June 2009
