The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with Vhembe District Municipality and the University of Venda, will on Thursday host an innovation workshop at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.
The Vhembe Technical and Vocational Education and Training will also be part of hosting the workshop.
This is as part of the mandate to support the South African innovators from idea, development of prototypes, protection of intellectual property and commercialisation of innovation.
The workshop aims to unearth technologies from underdeveloped rural and township communities, create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation and focused technology development and innovative thinking.
According to the Acting Chief Director of Operations in the Investment and Spatial Industrial Development branch of the dtic, Takalani Ramuthaga, innovation has a direct link to economic growth and development, and there is a direct correlation between innovative countries and industrialised countries.
Ramuthaga explained that the workshop will enable entrepreneurs in the Vhembe district and surrounding areas to access information on innovation support instruments, as well as other incentives of the dtic.
She emphasised that engaging with innovators and entrepreneurs located in rural and township areas has a potential to stimulate local economic activity and growth within communities.
“The innovators will receive information on the Khoebo Innovation Promotion Programme (KIPP), which was established with the objective of stimulating township and rural economies by supporting Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises and start-ups.
“However, the programme does not exist in isolation, as it is supported by programmes such as the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII), which serves as a feeder for the KIPP.
“Furthermore, with agriculture being one of Limpopo‘s main economic activities, information on incentives in agro-processing and manufacturing support will also be shared with participants,” Ramuthaga said.
She said apart from information dissemination, the workshop is aimed at identifying gaps that the innovation support programmes should effectively bridge between the markets and local communities, including innovation in townships and rural areas that policies and strategies may not have addressed adequately.
Ramuthaga underscored the valuable knowledge that exists in townships and rural areas where there is mainly no infrastructure and services.
To add value to such knowledge, Ramuthaga said government intervention is needed in the form of funding, exposure and forming linkages with the existing instruments. To this end, the workshop is aimed at identifying and unearthing innovative solutions.
“These engagements will also create awareness of valuable knowledge and skills that exist in the township and identify innovation that can be supported through other existing innovation instruments of the dtic, as well as other role players.
“The planned presentations will cover programmes from the dtic, Department of Small Business Development, Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, Companies, and Intellectual Property Commission, UNIVEN, Vhembe Municipality and other supporting entities on their products and services,” Ramuthaga said. – SAnews.gov.za
