Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande wants the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) and its Science and Technology Park to become a driving force for innovation-led industrialisation, supplier development and inclusive economic growth in the Eastern Cape.
During a high-level visit to the ELIDZ, Nzimande said South Africa’s industrial development must be supported by a robust, diversified and resilient National System of Innovation that connects research, skills and technology with production and the everyday development needs of communities.
“Special Economic Zones must be more than providers of land, infrastructure and incentives. They must become dynamic ecosystems where laboratories, incubators, training institutions, investors and manufacturers work together around shared industrial missions,” he said.
The Minister said the success of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) should be measured not only by infrastructure and investment, but also by productivity gains, supplier upgrading, patents, prototypes, new products and services, skills development and competitiveness.
He reiterated his proposal to consolidate the existing regional innovation forum into a dynamic science, technology and innovation forum for Buffalo City.
The proposed forum would coordinate institutions, identify development challenges requiring innovative solutions, connect these challenges with relevant expertise, and support science and technology parks linked to SEZs across the Eastern Cape.
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, working through entities such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), has supported the ELIDZ through several initiatives.
These include funding the feasibility study that led to the establishment of the ELIDZ Science and Technology Park, which was launched in 2014.
Between 2018 and 2023, the department also provided R2.4 million to the East London Regional Innovation Networking Platform, which reached 120 beneficiaries, including 17 technology-focused small, medium and micro enterprises.
Further support included integrating elements of the regional platform into the TIA–ELIDZ Science and Technology Park partnership and piloting a bio-entrepreneurship programme to help emerging enterprises turn locally available hemp and cannabis biomass into higher-value biomaterials and biochemicals.
Minister Nzimande said the Eastern Cape had significant potential to build a coordinated innovation ecosystem by connecting its universities, public TVET colleges, ports, manufacturing assets, agricultural opportunities, renewable-energy resources, coastal assets and youthful population.
East London’s established automotive industry, in particular, presents opportunities to expand advanced manufacturing and strengthen capabilities in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and digital production.
The shift towards electric and other new-energy vehicles, sustainable materials and circular manufacturing could also open up opportunities for new products, services and enterprises.
Closer collaboration between the automotive industry, the ELIDZ Science and Technology Park, universities, TVET colleges, science councils and TIA would help local innovators and emerging businesses participate in evolving industrial value chains.
“Innovation-led industrialisation must open opportunities for small enterprises, township and rural innovators, women-owned businesses and young people. The benefits must extend beyond the zone into Buffalo City, Mdantsane, surrounding towns and the wider provincial economy,” the Minister said.
He also called for stronger technology transfer, incubation, supplier development, access to research infrastructure, and incentives that promote innovation and localisation.
“We must use the ELIDZ Science and Technology Park to move ideas into factories, prototypes into products and local solutions into markets,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
