The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will transport four hundred grade 10 and 11 learners from the Capricorn District Municipality of Limpopo to the Innovation and Technology exhibition that will be held at the Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane today and tomorrow as part of the dti Technology Awards 2011.
The purpose of the dti Technology Awards is to raise awareness on the benefits of using technology to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that contributed towards technology development and innovation in South Africa. They are also aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity and technological innovativeness amongst business people by rewarding those that make use of technology to advance their business.
“the dti recognises and acknowledges the fact that modern technology has not only become enormously pervasive and universal in nature, but it has also permeated all aspects of our lives to such an extent that virtually everything we do involves some elements of technology. Economically and socially, the global world revolves around technology, and young people are in the forefront of this technological revolution. It is against this background that the department deemed it necessary to transport learners to the exhibition where they will be inspired by the technological inventions that have been created by innovators to assist companies to acquire or enhance their competitive edge. The main objective of exposing learners to these innovative creations is to entice them to follow Science, Engineering and Technology careers,” said Minister Rob Davies.
Earlier Minister Davies announced the names of 31 companies, projects and individuals that will vie for top honours in these years Technology Awards.
The dti Technology Awards are a combination of the three dti technology programmes, namely the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the Seda Technology Programme (stp) managed by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda).
For further information contact:
Bongani Lukhele
Tel: 012 394 1643
Cell: 074 299 8512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedti.gov.za
