Media invitation to launch of South Africa's Bio-Economy Strategy
The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, will officially launch South Africa's Bio-economy Strategy on Tuesday, 14 January 2013, at the CSIR International Convention Centre (Pretoria) from 12h00 to 14h00.
The Bio-economy Strategy is the successor to the National Biotechnology Strategy of 2001. It is a science-based strategy seeking to position bio-innovation as an essential arm of various line departments, specifically Health; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Environment; Trade and Industry; Rural Development and Land Reform; Energy; and Mineral Resources.
Approved by Cabinet in November last year, the strategy positions bio-innovation as essential to the achievement of government's industrial and social development goals. It is also aligned with the National Development Plan, which considers science, technology and innovation key to the South African developmental agenda, as advances in these fields underpin advances in the economy.
A key aspect of this new strategy is coordination, and the strategy therefore outlines key mechanisms for coordinating innovation efforts, ensuring that role players in academia, science councils and other institutions can work together to make the most of opportunities and resources rather than competing for them.
The launch of the Bio-economy Strategy by the government sees South Africa join a global trend of finding innovative science-based solutions to improve ordinary people's lives.
All media are welcome to attend.
To RSVP and more information:
Nthabi Maoela
Cell: 082 944 0015
E-mail: nthabiseng.maoela@dst.gov.za
Taslima Viljoen
Cell: 082 990 1685
E-mail: taslima.viljoen@dst.gov.za
