Today the Flemish Minister for Innovation, Ms Ingrid Lieten, met with the South African Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, in Cape Town to continue the policy dialogue on international cooperation in science and innovation that they initiated earlier this year.
In particular, the Ministers discussed how research and innovation could address major societal challenges, especially in the area of public health. They share a strong conviction that science and technology should be harnessed for sustainable development, including poverty alleviation, and that there is rich potential for cooperation between South Africa and Flanders in this area.
During their meeting in Brussels in April this year, Minister Hanekom invited Minister Lieten to visit South Africa to further strengthen cooperation. Minister Lieten is taking part in a Belgian economic mission that seeks to strengthen ties between South Africa and Belgium inter alia through economic cooperation.
Minister Lieten has come to South Africa to support Flemish companies, universities and knowledge institutions in strengthening existing and developing new partnerships with their South African counterparts.
Her itinerary will include visits to the Medical Research Council in Cape Town and the medical campus of the University of Limpopo, the IT University at the Belgian Campus in Pretoria, as well as the control room of the Square Kilometre Array global radio telescope project. She will also speak at various workshops and seminars dedicated to scientific cooperation and social and health innovation.
Flanders has excellent relations with South Africa. Scientific and economic cooperation dates back to the 1990s. Minister Lieten said, "I am delighted to be here and to witness South African science and innovation in action in fields such as space observation, social and healthcare and IT.
There is a dynamic here which is most impressive. In a number of research fields, South Africa is incontestably in the vanguard. I am proud that Flemish companies and universities have in some instances been able to play a role in this success. I am committed to the continued cooperation between South Africa and Flanders."
Minister Hanekom commented, "Following our earlier meetings in Brussels, I am delighted to welcome Minister Lieten to South Africa. South Africa values its strategic partnership in science and technology with Flanders, and Minister Lieten's visit is an ideal opportunity to strengthen cooperation.
It is our ambition to intensify collaboration, especially in those areas where research and innovation play a vital role in addressing our societies' most pressing challenges, such as fighting poverty and improving public health. I am fully committed to ensuring that we optimally leverage the exciting potential for mutually beneficial knowledge and innovation partnerships between South Africa and Flanders in these areas".
During the previous meeting in Brussels the discussions included medical research and social and healthcare innovation. Ministers Lieten and Hanekom agreed that these were topics in which Flanders and South Africa could exchange information and cooperate. Last month Minister Lieten launched a network of "Living Labs", which seek to develop innovative ways of supplying every citizen with quality and affordable health care and more proximate healthcare services. Building on its own investments in this area, South Africa is eager to explore cooperation.
One of the highlights of the visit will be Ministers Lieten and Hanekom's keynote addresses on how education and research can best contribute to the promotion of innovation at the international conference jointly organised by the South African Department of Science and Technology and the Knowledge Economy Network (KEN) in Cape Town on 22-23 October 2014.
Minister Lieten will also be meeting South Africa's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Michael Masutha, at a dinner hosted by the Cape Higher Education Consortium to promote cooperation between Belgian and South African universities.
Background
Flanders and South Africa have a long-standing and successful bilateral and European cooperation relationship in science and innovation. Flemish and South African knowledge institutions and public entities have engaged in joint projects for some time now.
For example, the Fund for Scientific Research (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)) concluded a bilateral cooperation agreement with the National Research Foundation, its South African counterpart, in 2010, which resulted in joint research projects being set up in the field of biosciences and biotechnology, social and human sciences, information and communication technology, global challenges, astronomy and nanotechnology.
New projects will soon be started following a second call for proposals at the end of 2012. In this context research cooperation on HIV/AIDS is also supported.
For more information:
Nthabiseng Maoela
Cell: 082 944 0015
Email: Nthabiseng.maoela@dst.gov.za
Veronica Mohapeloa
Cell: 083 400 5750
Email: Veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za
