SA innovates to improve services

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Pretoria - The South African government has taken the lead in creating innovative systems that benefit its people, says Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

Speaking at 7th International Symposium on Macro- and Supramolecular Architectures and Materials Gala Dinner in Johannesburg on Tuesday, the Minister said South Africa was now at the forefront of innovative programmes to provide decent service delivery to impoverished communities.

The symposium brings together scientists and engineers from all over the world to reflect on the current status of and developments in advanced materials, with a focus on practical applications.

Minister Pandor said investing massively in innovation can help solve some of the most critical social problems facing the world today.

She cited a sanitation project underway in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape that has attracted international interest from respected partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

The project aims to solve sanitation problems in the rural area by using alternative technologies.

Another project, the wireless mesh network, brings internet connectivity to rural areas in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. It narrows the digital divide and enables micro-enterprise development in poverty-stricken areas.

Minister Pandor said government had worked hard over the past 20 years to connect knowledge generation to economic development.

One of government's main post-1994 goals has been to shift South Africa's over-reliance on a resources economy to value-adding and knowledge-intensive activities.

"Over the past 20 years we have built a system that connects local government, big business, start-up entrepreneurs, venture capital, research organisations, higher education institutions, further education and training colleges, and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)," said the Minister.

Human capital development is also high on government's economic growth agenda, as more and more students, especially black females, are encouraged to choose science, engineering and research careers. - SAnews.gov.za