The Department of Science and Technology's focus for the year will be on supporting the creation of jobs through innovation, research and development.
Director-general Phil Mjwara says the department will continue to promote the role of science and technology and innovation in the creation of decent work. He adds this focus will see the department continue to support programmes, which promoted innovation in small and medium enterprises, research and development in the private and public sectors, the use of space science and technology for land use and disaster monitoring.
Funding will continue to play a large part in the department's goals, he says. The four national science councils and major public and private partnerships will continue to get support from the department.
Plans to establish and begin operations at the Technology Innovation Agency are under way and this will help to address the innovation gap, says Mjwara. He adds that close attention will be given to the funding mechanisms used in agencies, and a new funding model would be introduced to improve access to funds.
Mjwara emphasises the importance of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Publicly Funded Research Act - saying that, in the absence of this legislation, public institutions did not know how to manage intellectual property. He notes the department hopes this framework, on how benefits should be shared, will end the exploitation of public knowledge.
Technology transfer offices would be established at each of the universities around the country as part of the IPR Bill, he adds. The department would provide courses for managers of these offices in innovation for innovation officers to ensure they know how to commercialise IP.
Working with other government departments, such as agriculture and health, to provide quality solutions would also be a priority. He identifies nanotechnology as a key contributor to improvements in the health department.
Regional expertise
Mjwara notes that working with provinces is key and innovation needs to be promoted in each province. The department has identified regional innovation systems, which will work with the provinces to draft research and development plans, he says. Work has already begun in the Eastern Cape and Free State.
By deepening regional integration and international participation, the department would also improve its skills base and improve research and development locally, he explains.
“We would like to deepen regional integration in science and technology so we can support the implementation of our science and technology plan of action, which was adopted by African ministers of science and technologies. We would like to have a protocol in SADC dealing with innovation and use this protocol for developing science and technology in the region.”
GDP target
Mjwara says the annual research and development study by the government reveals it will meet previously set goals soon. The 2006/7 study indicated the department, through its funding programmes, contributes 0.95% to the national GDP. The goal to achieve 1% of the GDP will be achieved in 2008/9, says Mjwara.
Key to this, he says, are programmes for unemployed science and technology graduates and those which promote awareness about science and technology.
“One of the bottlenecks we've identified is producing high-level graduates. This creates a gap in innovation production and we need to now look at the interface between the private sector and the higher learning institutions.”
Initiatives targeting young professionals in public institutions will also receive a boost and the department would ensure skilled, young professionals are promoted to higher level positions.
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