Minister of science and technology Naledi Pandor has announced the board members of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
The 10-member board will be chaired by Dr Mamphele Ramphele, former vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town and former MD of the World Bank.
Approved by Cabinet in April, the board will ensure the TIA accomplishes its mandate to help stimulate technological innovation to improve economic growth in the country.
Cheryl Carolus, chairperson of Peotona, and Dr Steven Cornelius, executive member of the South African Veterinary Council, will also sit on the board.
Other members include professor Susan Harrison, chairperson of the board of the Cape Biotechnology Trust; Ilan Lax, an expert in the legal and justice system; and Dr Nhlanhla Msomi, president of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr Patrick Ngwenya, director of CKS investments at Unisys Africa; Ross Norton, chairman of SA Bioproducts; Craig Venter, CEO of Altech; and Helen Brown, who also sits on the board of the Tshumisano Trust, have also been selected to sit on the board.
The agency, which the Department of Science and Technology says will be open in July, was established in terms of the TIA Act of 2008. It forms part of the department's 10-year plan to promote innovation through funding, support and commercialisation.
The board members of the public funding agency are expected to develop plans to use the local science and technology base to develop new industries, create sustainable jobs, and help diversify the economy.
The agency will now begin establishing important terms of reference for itself and consolidating existing state research and funding structures into it to help it achieve its mandate.
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