Date: 28/09/2004
Source: Ministry
Title: M Mangena: Hand-over ceremony of Annual Report of Innovation Fund Trust
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, M MANGENA, AT THE HAND-OVER CEREMONY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INNOVATION FUND TRUST, 28 September 2004
Dr von Gruenewaldt,
NRF Executives,
Board of Trustees,
Dr Eugene Lottering,
Executive Director of the Innovation Fund,
Ladies and Gentlemen
There is a direct correlation between international competitiveness and invention, innovation and technology development. Globally, nations are expending considerable public resources in growing their science, engineering and technology base to create economic value and improve the quality of life. No country can hope to survive and prosper if its economy is not growing and competitive. Economic growth is fostered by technological innovation and technology transfer, which result in the introduction of new products, processes and services.
Government is an important player in facilitating and promoting innovation, diffusion of knowledge and skills for economic transformation. In order to fulfil and sustain this role, a high quality science, engineering and technology base is essential. To this end, government has given the NRF this all important task. In order to achieve and sustain our economic objectives, we need to increase the number of young and female scientists engaged in SET activities.
A number of key initiatives are already in place in this regard. Among them, is the increase in the levels of public expenditure on research, which has resulted in increasing scientific output. Over the past ten years, the number of university graduates active in our economy has increased by 50%. While the performance of our economy has been lauded, little has been said or celebrated about the contributions made by these graduates to the knowledge intensity of our economy.
Through their involvement, a positive entrepreneurial environment, public support and appreciation of modern technological, inventions have evolved and become established. We should always bear in mind that the market pull for innovative products and services rely on public support for private sector venture capital investments.
The Department of Science and Technology recognises the need to stimulate public understanding and appreciation of science and technology, and encourages private sector investment in the national system of innovation.
Science, engineering and technology play a very important role in the establishment of small enterprises, whose development and growth are crucial for the advancement of society and reduction of poverty. Indeed national benefits from our science and technology pursuits can only accrue when the utility of public investments in research is converted into new products, processes and services to the benefit of all South Africans. For us to sustain our economic development, and remain globally competitive, we need to nurture and encourage our new industries to adopt new technologies.
The role played by tertiary institutions in knowledge generation and transfer, and the development of skilled human resources is crucial. Our universities have developed more positive and beneficial set of relationships with business and industry than is the case in many developed countries. This is an important foundation for building solid knowledge and skills transfer for successful enterprises.
As engines of economic development, higher education institutions and science councils should strive to form larger and more inclusive local research groups for the purposes of collaborating with institutions abroad. Some of these groups will be oriented to knowledge production, others more towards innovation, so that we pay equal attention to both fundamental and applications driven research. The days of an individual researcher have been supplanted by informal and formal mutually beneficial collaborations.
Within such a stimulating environment, institutional policies must provide guidance to identify important career drivers. Global experience has resolved problems of the supposed tension between academic output and the economic value of research. Both excellence and relevance are necessary criteria for institutional performance and evaluation.
The dichotomous approach that pits fundamental researchers against those in pursuit of market-related R&D should be abandoned in favour of a multi-faceted integrative and interactive approach. This is part of the mandate of the Innovation Fund.
Between 1985 and 1998 the United States patent applications rose 6-fold. In 2000, over 450 companies based upon a university-licensed scientific discovery were formed. Interestingly, the numbers for Europe have reached the same levels. Over 80% of these companies are founded in the state or province of the academic institution that created the technology. We need to understand that science is global, but innovation is local.
South Africa has also begun to see the fruits of these positive public policies, although a lot still needs to be done to level the playing fields with respect to intellectual property protection. On the whole, the important lesson derived from best practice internationally, is that the legislation governing the protection of intellectual property from publicly funded research sets out the rules around IP matters, and creates uniformity of practice. This can be done whilst providing incentives for universities and science councils to collaborate with commercial enterprises to promote and utilise the technology developed by its institutional research capacity.
Our own policy development, which would be concluded during the next few weeks, is also informed by international best practice. But all would be done to ensure that our peculiar historical and political circumstances are taken into account. In the interim our public research institutions can assist in this process by providing clearly articulated policies on Intellectual Property Rights, in consultation with the DST.
Technology licensing, and the creation of innovative start-up or spin-out companies can also help. Increased activity should have a positive effect on industry-university relationships, and improve industry sponsored research at publicly funded institutions. Over time, we should be able to see the impact of technology within the industry sector.
The ability to track new technology developments, using techniques such as technology road-mapping is important. Beyond these specific interactions with industry, a tertiary institution is the focal point for a broad range of technology transfer activities, including scientific publications, patents, licensing, consulting, to name but a few.
The Innovation Fund has diversified since its inception in 1998, in order to cater for the specialised funding needs of innovators along the innovation value chain. As a cross cutting instrument, it continues to invest in R&D consortia engaged in high-risk, high potential projects.
These provide proof of the concept of key new technologies, products and software, which are the forerunners of technology-based enterprises. Our commitment to innovation is unwavering, as evidenced from our investment portfolio of R665m in 106 projects, spanning a diversity of technologies. We have a rich portfolio of projects in advanced materials, medical diagnostics, vaccine development for intransigent diseases of the region, and natural resource beneficiation. Presentations here today give important updates on their diversity and profiles.
Innovation in our economy will continue to enjoy focus. The work contained in this report is encouraging. We are convinced that the Innovation Fund has become a more robust and responsive institution. The Annual report shows a combination of good progress and excellent business management.
May I, in closing, congratulate the research and innovation leaders who presented here today. You are the vanguard of the new generation of researchers. We also thank the Trustees, the NRF and the staff of the Innovation Fund. Your endeavours are bearing fruit. All of us must put spokes to the wheel to ensure we cross the "innovation chasm". The progress being made is encouraging.
The Innovation Fund Annual report awaits your review, reflection and responses.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology
28 September 2004
Source: Ministry
Title: M Mangena: Hand-over ceremony of Annual Report of Innovation Fund Trust
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, M MANGENA, AT THE HAND-OVER CEREMONY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INNOVATION FUND TRUST, 28 September 2004
Dr von Gruenewaldt,
NRF Executives,
Board of Trustees,
Dr Eugene Lottering,
Executive Director of the Innovation Fund,
Ladies and Gentlemen
There is a direct correlation between international competitiveness and invention, innovation and technology development. Globally, nations are expending considerable public resources in growing their science, engineering and technology base to create economic value and improve the quality of life. No country can hope to survive and prosper if its economy is not growing and competitive. Economic growth is fostered by technological innovation and technology transfer, which result in the introduction of new products, processes and services.
Government is an important player in facilitating and promoting innovation, diffusion of knowledge and skills for economic transformation. In order to fulfil and sustain this role, a high quality science, engineering and technology base is essential. To this end, government has given the NRF this all important task. In order to achieve and sustain our economic objectives, we need to increase the number of young and female scientists engaged in SET activities.
A number of key initiatives are already in place in this regard. Among them, is the increase in the levels of public expenditure on research, which has resulted in increasing scientific output. Over the past ten years, the number of university graduates active in our economy has increased by 50%. While the performance of our economy has been lauded, little has been said or celebrated about the contributions made by these graduates to the knowledge intensity of our economy.
Through their involvement, a positive entrepreneurial environment, public support and appreciation of modern technological, inventions have evolved and become established. We should always bear in mind that the market pull for innovative products and services rely on public support for private sector venture capital investments.
The Department of Science and Technology recognises the need to stimulate public understanding and appreciation of science and technology, and encourages private sector investment in the national system of innovation.
Science, engineering and technology play a very important role in the establishment of small enterprises, whose development and growth are crucial for the advancement of society and reduction of poverty. Indeed national benefits from our science and technology pursuits can only accrue when the utility of public investments in research is converted into new products, processes and services to the benefit of all South Africans. For us to sustain our economic development, and remain globally competitive, we need to nurture and encourage our new industries to adopt new technologies.
The role played by tertiary institutions in knowledge generation and transfer, and the development of skilled human resources is crucial. Our universities have developed more positive and beneficial set of relationships with business and industry than is the case in many developed countries. This is an important foundation for building solid knowledge and skills transfer for successful enterprises.
As engines of economic development, higher education institutions and science councils should strive to form larger and more inclusive local research groups for the purposes of collaborating with institutions abroad. Some of these groups will be oriented to knowledge production, others more towards innovation, so that we pay equal attention to both fundamental and applications driven research. The days of an individual researcher have been supplanted by informal and formal mutually beneficial collaborations.
Within such a stimulating environment, institutional policies must provide guidance to identify important career drivers. Global experience has resolved problems of the supposed tension between academic output and the economic value of research. Both excellence and relevance are necessary criteria for institutional performance and evaluation.
The dichotomous approach that pits fundamental researchers against those in pursuit of market-related R&D should be abandoned in favour of a multi-faceted integrative and interactive approach. This is part of the mandate of the Innovation Fund.
Between 1985 and 1998 the United States patent applications rose 6-fold. In 2000, over 450 companies based upon a university-licensed scientific discovery were formed. Interestingly, the numbers for Europe have reached the same levels. Over 80% of these companies are founded in the state or province of the academic institution that created the technology. We need to understand that science is global, but innovation is local.
South Africa has also begun to see the fruits of these positive public policies, although a lot still needs to be done to level the playing fields with respect to intellectual property protection. On the whole, the important lesson derived from best practice internationally, is that the legislation governing the protection of intellectual property from publicly funded research sets out the rules around IP matters, and creates uniformity of practice. This can be done whilst providing incentives for universities and science councils to collaborate with commercial enterprises to promote and utilise the technology developed by its institutional research capacity.
Our own policy development, which would be concluded during the next few weeks, is also informed by international best practice. But all would be done to ensure that our peculiar historical and political circumstances are taken into account. In the interim our public research institutions can assist in this process by providing clearly articulated policies on Intellectual Property Rights, in consultation with the DST.
Technology licensing, and the creation of innovative start-up or spin-out companies can also help. Increased activity should have a positive effect on industry-university relationships, and improve industry sponsored research at publicly funded institutions. Over time, we should be able to see the impact of technology within the industry sector.
The ability to track new technology developments, using techniques such as technology road-mapping is important. Beyond these specific interactions with industry, a tertiary institution is the focal point for a broad range of technology transfer activities, including scientific publications, patents, licensing, consulting, to name but a few.
The Innovation Fund has diversified since its inception in 1998, in order to cater for the specialised funding needs of innovators along the innovation value chain. As a cross cutting instrument, it continues to invest in R&D consortia engaged in high-risk, high potential projects.
These provide proof of the concept of key new technologies, products and software, which are the forerunners of technology-based enterprises. Our commitment to innovation is unwavering, as evidenced from our investment portfolio of R665m in 106 projects, spanning a diversity of technologies. We have a rich portfolio of projects in advanced materials, medical diagnostics, vaccine development for intransigent diseases of the region, and natural resource beneficiation. Presentations here today give important updates on their diversity and profiles.
Innovation in our economy will continue to enjoy focus. The work contained in this report is encouraging. We are convinced that the Innovation Fund has become a more robust and responsive institution. The Annual report shows a combination of good progress and excellent business management.
May I, in closing, congratulate the research and innovation leaders who presented here today. You are the vanguard of the new generation of researchers. We also thank the Trustees, the NRF and the staff of the Innovation Fund. Your endeavours are bearing fruit. All of us must put spokes to the wheel to ensure we cross the "innovation chasm". The progress being made is encouraging.
The Innovation Fund Annual report awaits your review, reflection and responses.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology
28 September 2004
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