On Wednesday, 8 April 2015, South Africa will add a "cleanroom" facility to its ever-growing list of world-class scientific facilities. This will be unveiled by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, at Mintek's Nanotechnology Innovation Centre in Johannesburg.
Cleanrooms are essential for the fabrication and production of advanced devices and systems that require the concentration of airborne particlesto be controlled to ensure that processes are not compromised by unwanted and/or unknown contaminants. Cleanrooms also allow the control of other variables, such as temperature, humidity and pressure.
Commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in December 2014, the facility is designed to enable the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre and South Africa's researchers to develop and fabricate nanotechnology-based diagnostic devices and tools for application in health and the containment of biological reagents.
The facility will also enable the centre to produce nanotechnology-based devices and systems that meet the stringent International Standards Organisation diagnostic kits produced in-house. This makes it possible for the NIC to follow good manufacturing practice guidelines and comply with pharmaceutical inspection conventions and cooperation schemes.
Media are invited as follows:
Event: Launch of DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre Cleanroom Facility
Time: 10h30-12h30
Venue: Mintek G4 Conference Room, Mintek, 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele, Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 566 0446
Tel: 012 843 6799
