The Programme Director
Advocate Linda Makatini, Chairperson of the Mintek Board
Mr Abe Mngomezulu, Mintek President and CEO
Dr Gansen Pillay, the NRF Deputy CEO
Dr Makhapa Makhafola, the Mintek General Manager for Research and Development
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Good morning. It's a pleasure to be here today.
Africa carries a lion’s share of the burden of the world’s poverty-related diseases. Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS are in large part responsible for sub-Saharan Africa’s low life expectancy.
There is a need for Africans to pool resources and to take deliberate steps to combat these diseases.
One action we took was to step up investment in emerging research areas in general and in our National Nanotechnology Strategy (2005) in particular. When we launched the National Nanotechnology Strategy we set ambitious goals to help provide clean water, clean and reliable energy, and to improve our health system.
We committed ourselves to doing this cost-effectively and we remain committed to these goals and focused on their realisation. I am greatly encouraged by the progress we have made in implementing our strategy. In a relatively short time we set up two Nanotechnology Innovation Centres meeting the highest international standards.
We put in place reliable equipment-acquisition programmes, and research equipment is being placed at various research institutions. And we continue to fund six research chairs in the field to enhance the generation of nanotechnology knowledge. These programmes, and others, will help give effect to nanotechnology innovation and put us on course to realising the objectives of the strategy.
I have no doubt that nanotechnology has an extraordinarily important role to play in shaping the future of the world.
But what's our role? Are we doing enough to stake a claim in the future? Are our industries planning to make sure that they are not left behind?
The two Nanotechnology Innovation Centres have shown impressive results since their establishment.
Since 2007 the number of permanent researchers at the MINTEK NIC has increased from 3 to 18 and the Centre has produced 144 postgraduate students. Some eight in ten of the graduates are black and five in ten are women. About six in ten of the NIC graduates continued with their studies within the NIC and the others are employed by either private or public sectors. The NIC has built world class infrastructure throughout the country including Cleanroom facilities at Mintek.
The NIC has held several workshops and conferences, including the prestigious MAM-14 conference, which was graced by two Nobel Laureates and leading innovation experts. It has increased SA’s reputation by obtaining major regional and international awards and collaborated extensively with world leading institutes in five major continents. It has developed nanobiotechnology-based systems and devices for rapid diagnostics and nano-enabled water treatment technologies. Some of the INNOVATIVE nanomaterial systems and diagnostic prototype devices have reached the industrialisation and commercialisation stages.
If we‘re to succeed in realising our objectives in a multidisciplinary field like nanotechnology, it's important that we bring all role players together. The novelty and complexity of nanotechnology make industry engagement with the scientific community imperative. Industrial success depends heavily on efficient science and technology knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry, partly through the success of start-up and spin-off companies.
Are we doing enough to involve industry?
From our side, we are landscaping the nanotechnology sector.
The DST is currently developing of a roadmap for nanotechnology innovation, the purpose of which is to guide the Department and other role players in the creation of an enabling environment for nanotechnology innovation and product development.
The outcome of a nanotechnology landscaping exercise will establish the level of activity of nanotechnology research in the country and the extent of readiness (in terms of research progress) for nanotechnology innovation.
In addition and as part of the nanotechnology innovation efforts, the department, through the NRF, is supporting the nanotechnology flagship programme (NFP). This is a programme designed to support projects that are geared towards demonstrating the benefits of nanotechnology within a reasonably short space of time. Five such projects are currently being funded.
From MINTEK's side, I have noted that it has set itself very important strategic objectives in relation to human capital development, research and development, innovation and commercialisation. It plans to increase collaboration with strategic and value-adding partners that will enable the NIC to fully execute its mandate. It plans to work on technology transfers to relevant industries whose products or services are nano-inspired and nano-enabled. It plans to scale up products (large-scale production of nanoparticles of more than 10 Litres). And it plans to spin out more companies in joint ventures with industry partners or companies wholly-owned by Mintek.
I appeal to potential industry partners to support and partner with MINTEK.
The Cleanroom we are here to launch will provide additional impetus for nanotechnology research.
It's establishment will facilitate collaboration in high-end miniature devices fabrication and develop expertise in their production in South Africa.
Allow me to conclude by saying that the DST has invested approximately R29 million in the construction and acquisition of equipment for the MINTEK NIC cleanroom facility. It is ready to do more in the future.
I thank you.
