The ministers responsible for science, technology and innovation in the African SKA consortium met on 10 March 2010 to reaffirm their commitment and support for the African Square Kilometre Array project.
Recalling the endorsement of and commitment to the African SKA bid made by the ministers responsible for science and technology in 2003, we note the 2010 support from the African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST) to present this initiative to the African Union Heads of State Summit.
Recognising the importance of the SKA on science and technology for economic development and the cross cutting relevance of science, technology and innovation in supporting all programmes that are meant to achieve equitable and sustainable development and the millennium development goals.
Realising the importance of the SKA in economic and skills development; collaborating as African partners on science and technology and the importance of sharing experience and expertise on science and technology.
Acknowledging the importance of science, technology and innovation emanating from the SKA project in creating our knowledge economies and driving our human capital development programmes.
We hereby agree to strengthen cooperation as follows:
* Each partner country will set up a site readiness team to optimise processes surrounding land, mobility of people and equipment
* The African partner country site readiness teams must meet twice a year to share relevant information on infrastructure, regulations and progress on requirements for the success of the African SKA bid
* The South African Department of Science and Technology will assist the associate and partner countries in crafting a human capital development plan and a communications programme linked to the African SKA bid.
We express sincere gratitude and fully endorse the continuing strategic role played by the South African Ministry and Department of Science and Technology in making the SKA bid an African partnership.
Partner countries are:
* Namibia
* Botswana
* Mozambique
* Mauritius
* Madagascar
* Kenya
* Zambia
* Ghana
Contact:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
10 March 2010
