The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, has appointed a ministerial committee to review the science, technology and innovation landscape and its readiness to meet the needs of South Africa.
Last Thursday, 3 June 2010, the Minister signed the Gazette establishing the committee.
Professor Loyiso Nongxa, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand will chair the committee, with Professor Wieland Gevers, formerly Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Academy of Science of South Africa as his deputy.
The other committee members are:
* Mr Michael Spicer
* Professor Brian Figaji
* Dr Mamokgethi Setati
* Professor Cheryl de la Rey
* Dr Allyson Lawless
* Dr Michael Kahn
* Professor Phuti Ngoepe.
The Minister tasked the committee to develop a vision for science, technology and innovation for South Africa into the future.
The committee will assess whether South Africa is making optimal use of its existing strengths and whether it is appropriately positioned to respond rapidly to a changing global context and thus meet the country’s needs in the next 10 to 30 years.
Minister Pandor stressed the importance of reviewing the key policies and strategies that have shaped the system of innovation over the past 15 years.
The Minister also indicated that the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Review of South Africa’s Innovation Policy (2007) provides an important point of departure for the assessment of the system.
Minister Pandor indicated that two considerations make the appointment of this ministerial committee most timely. The first is that South Africa has one of the leading STI systems in Africa, is moving towards reaching its target of one percent of gross domestic product being allocated to research and development, and has moved that target to 1,5 percent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by 2014.
The second is the challenge to the science technology and innovation system to both position South Africa globally as a knowledge based economy and ensuring that this investment pays dividends in improving the quality of life of South Africans.
Minister Pandor met the committee members in her offices in Pretoria this afternoon to thank them for agreeing to serve on the committee.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
8 June 2010
