Gallagher Estate played host to two major industry award ceremonies last night. The President`s Award for Export Achievement and the MTN Business Day Technology Top 100 Awards drew an audience of several hundred industry representatives, as well as minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin, and deputy minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Brigitte Mabandla.
The overall winner in both award ceremonies was Durban-based UEC Technologies. The trophies for the President`s Award for Export Achievement and the Minister`s Award for Technological Excellence were handed over by President Thabo Mbeki at the joint banquet.
Adjudicators said 71% of finalists had achieved net growth in the number of jobs provided by their firms over the last three years despite the deployment of labour-efficient technology.
"Successful application of technology is a platform for jobs growth. The experience of these companies proves it," said Dr Roy Marcus, chairman of the Technology 100 Awards committee.
Other success factors highlighted by the awards and the adjudication process included workplace democracy, mature management style, prompt investment in appropriate technology, and technology ownership.
Smaller, novice companies were urged to enter future awards competitions. Marcus commented: "On one level, the awards are an interface between innovators and government. Getting closer to this interaction can only be advantageous for young, ambitious companies."
Other winners in the categories of multimedia services, IT, research and development and telecoms equipment and instrumentation were Artec Product Design, Azisa, ISIS, the CSIR Manufacturing and Materials Technology Group, Electric Genetics, and DataVoice, respectively.
In addition to showcasing exporting excellence and technological progress, the event launched the Smart Partnerships Expo, a two-day exhibition at Gallagher Estate running until 1 December, and the launch of a record of local innovation, "The Hidden Edge; South Africa`s Quest For Innovation".
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