Pretoria - The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University of Blida in Algeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Centre of Excellence in aeronautics research.
The signing of the MoU took place recently at the International Exhibition of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in Algeria.
The Joint Centre of Excellence will be facilitated by the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as the South African Department of Science and Technology to establish a working relationship.
Through the initiative, Algeria will be strengthened in the field of aeronautics and the South African Department of Science and Technology will expand the South African and Algerian science and technology bilateral.
The potential fields of cooperation include technologies for UAVs; avionics and ground systems; aircraft structures; gas turbines; wind tunnels; store integration; hypersonic flow; flow control; space technologies; computational methods; aeroelasticity; optronics; radar and aero acoustics.
Knowledge transfer in the form of staff exchange programmes, postgraduate student programmes, joint seminars and workshops, joint development programmes and co-supervision on postgraduate programmes leading to common publications, form part of the Joint Centre of Excellence as well.
“Outside of South Africa, there are really no other significant aeronautics research capabilities and facilities in Africa.
“Algeria’s equivalent Science and Technology department understands the requirement for Africa to take ownership of its aeronautics research requirements and are delighted to close the African aeronautics research chasm through collaboration with South Africa,” said Major General (retired) Desmond Barker, Acting Executive Director at CSIR DPSS. – SAnews.gov.za
