The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, is currently in the United States of America to strengthen science, technology and innovation partnerships.
Several leading academic, scientific and philanthropic organisations in the USA have invited Minister Pandor to participate in high-level science-related engagements in Washington, DC, from 4 to 7 August 2014. These events have been organised on the margins of the United States-Africa Leaders Summit, hosted by President Obama and attended by President Zuma.
Yesterday, 4 August 2014, Minister Pandor participated in the United States-South Africa Business and Investment Forum, which included a keynote address by President Zuma, and was attended by senior business leaders.
Minister Pandor spoke during a panel discussion on South Africa's economic drivers. She highlighted the critical role of innovation in South Africa's growth and development strategies and the exciting potential for partnerships with US industry. There are, for example, investment opportunities in South Africa's health innovation sector, as well as energy and information and communication technology research initiatives.
Later, the Minister delivered a keynote address at a special "Science at the Summit" event, hosted by the US National Press Club. Speaking about "Investing in the next generation", the Minister highlighted the important contribution that projects like the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, which Africa is co-hosting, would have in training the next generation of African knowledge workers. The Minister emphasised the importance of international partnerships in science, technology and innovation capacity-building in Africa.
Today, Tuesday, 5 August 2014, the Minister will be a keynote speaker at the Symposium on Science, Technology and Innovation for Economic Growth and Development in Africa, hosted by the US National Academy of Science.
At this event, the Minister will interrogate the critical human needs that science and technology should help to address, and the concomitant requirement to strengthen capacity in Africa. Many of the foremost scientists and academics in the USA and South Africa will participate in the symposium.
On Wednesday, 6 August 2014, the Minister will hold bilateral talks with Dr John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and President Obama's most senior science advisor. Later that day, she will meet Dr Alan Leshner, the CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which has done Minister Pandor the honour of inviting her to speak at its prestigious Annual Meeting in 2015 in San José.
The Minister will conclude her US programme on Thursday, 7 August 2014, by addressing a special event jointly organised by the National Academies, the Carnegie Corporation of New York and South Africa's National Research Foundation, on the theme of "Innovation and impact – fostering new partnerships to facilitate Africa's development."
Commenting on her intensive programme of engagements, Minister Pandor said "Science and technology is at the heart of South Africa's National Development Plan and should also be a key element of regional growth and development strategies for Africa.
The decisive defeat of poverty, inequality and unemployment require concerted investments in knowledge and innovation. Science and technology partnerships with international partners such as the United States have an important role to play in this regard, and promoting such cooperation is the objective of my visit."
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele, Media Liaison Officer: Minister's Office
Cell: 082 566 0446
Tel: 012 843 6799
