Shanghai, China
South Africa is using its participation in the Pujiang Innovation Forum to pursue partnerships aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities in biotechnology, satellite development and green hydrogen.
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) Deputy Director-General for Technology Innovation, Dr Kenny Tenza, said the companies visited by the South African delegation in China had been carefully selected because their work aligned with the country’s strategic priorities.
The delegation, led by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande, held discussions with Liferiver, SpaceSail and Safire Group, as it explored opportunities for technological cooperation, market access and access to specialised equipment.
“I think the first and very important point to make is that all these visits are strategically aligned with our priorities as the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation,” Tenza said.
The first company visited was Life River, a biotechnology business involved in medical devices and diagnostic technologies. Tenza said its operations supported South Africa’s Bio-economy Strategy and the department’s efforts to strengthen the country’s technological capabilities.
“It is a medical device and diagnostics company, and that fits very well with the strategic priorities of the department.
“We were able to discuss key areas of mutual interest between the company, the department and our entities. We are looking forward to further collaboration with the company and to using that relationship to strengthen our own technologies,” Tenza said.
The delegation also visited SpaceSail as South Africa seeks to expand its space science and satellite capabilities. Government has identified the space sector as an important area of investment, including the longer-term ambition of developing an indigenous satellite-launch capability.
“We want to improve our capabilities and ultimately develop an indigenous launch capability within South Africa. The company is called SpaceSail and during our visit, we identified several possible areas of collaboration, especially in the satellite-payload space,” he said.
Satellite payloads include the instruments and equipment carried aboard satellites to conduct communications, observation, scientific research and other missions.
The delegation’s visit to Safire Group focused on technologies supporting South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions. The company manufactures electrolysers, which use electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.
“The last company that we visited is Safire Group, whose work is also aligned with our energy strategy. It is one of the key manufacturers of electrolysers in the world,” Tenza said.
In this regard, he said the DSTI was focusing mainly on the membrane electrode assembly.
“We also have our own South African company participating in this visit, which is working in the membrane electrode assembly industry as well.”
Tenza said the DSTI wanted to facilitate a relationship that would deliver tangible commercial and technological opportunities for the South African company.
“We are strengthening that collaboration so that the South African company can have access to markets and also benefit from an equipment perspective.”
The engagements, he explained, were intended to ensure that South Africa’s participation in the forum produced practical partnerships, rather than ending with conference discussions.
Collectively, the visits targeted three areas in which the country wants to deepen local expertise and industrial capacity -- health technologies, space systems and clean-energy manufacturing. – SAnews.gov.za
South Africa is using its participation in the Pujiang Innovation Forum to pursue partnerships aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities in biotechnology, satellite development and green hydrogen.
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) Deputy Director-General for Technology Innovation, Dr Kenny Tenza, said the companies visited by the South African delegation in China had been carefully selected because their work aligned with the country’s strategic priorities.
The delegation, led by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande, held discussions with Liferiver, SpaceSail and Safire Group, as it explored opportunities for technological cooperation, market access and access to specialised equipment.
“I think the first and very important point to make is that all these visits are strategically aligned with our priorities as the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation,” Tenza said.
The first company visited was Life River, a biotechnology business involved in medical devices and diagnostic technologies. Tenza said its operations supported South Africa’s Bio-economy Strategy and the department’s efforts to strengthen the country’s technological capabilities.
“It is a medical device and diagnostics company, and that fits very well with the strategic priorities of the department.
“We were able to discuss key areas of mutual interest between the company, the department and our entities. We are looking forward to further collaboration with the company and to using that relationship to strengthen our own technologies,” Tenza said.
The delegation also visited SpaceSail as South Africa seeks to expand its space science and satellite capabilities. Government has identified the space sector as an important area of investment, including the longer-term ambition of developing an indigenous satellite-launch capability.
“We want to improve our capabilities and ultimately develop an indigenous launch capability within South Africa. The company is called SpaceSail and during our visit, we identified several possible areas of collaboration, especially in the satellite-payload space,” he said.
Satellite payloads include the instruments and equipment carried aboard satellites to conduct communications, observation, scientific research and other missions.
The delegation’s visit to Safire Group focused on technologies supporting South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions. The company manufactures electrolysers, which use electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.
“The last company that we visited is Safire Group, whose work is also aligned with our energy strategy. It is one of the key manufacturers of electrolysers in the world,” Tenza said.
In this regard, he said the DSTI was focusing mainly on the membrane electrode assembly.
“We also have our own South African company participating in this visit, which is working in the membrane electrode assembly industry as well.”
Tenza said the DSTI wanted to facilitate a relationship that would deliver tangible commercial and technological opportunities for the South African company.
“We are strengthening that collaboration so that the South African company can have access to markets and also benefit from an equipment perspective.”
The engagements, he explained, were intended to ensure that South Africa’s participation in the forum produced practical partnerships, rather than ending with conference discussions.
Collectively, the visits targeted three areas in which the country wants to deepen local expertise and industrial capacity -- health technologies, space systems and clean-energy manufacturing. – SAnews.gov.za
