Question NW1361 to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Share this page:

29 October 2024 - NW1361

Profile picture: Zondo, Mr  S S

Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Given that the objective of the Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships programme of his department is to strengthen provincial and rural innovation and production systems through analysis and catalytic interventions, what (a) interventions have been introduced especially in the rural areas of (i) KwaZulu-Natal, (ii) Limpopo and (iii) the Eastern Cape and (b) quantifiable benefits have rural communities reaped from provincial and rural innovation and production systems so far?

Reply:

The DSTI’s Regional Innovation Support Programme (RISP) is one of the Department’s programmes aimed at increasing the spatial footprint of innovation. To this end, the RISP makes a deliberate effort to support non-traditional actors in areas that are typically underserved in terms of Science, Technology and Innovation support. The RISP supports 2 main types of interventions: Regional Innovation Networking Platforms (RINP) and funding support for feasibility studies and business plans for innovation enabling mechanisms such as science parks, tech hubs, technology incubators and the like. RINPs are aimed at developing and supporting inclusive sub-national innovation ecosystems through establishing physical platforms that bring together the innovation multi-helix stakeholders in the area. The RINPs are required to undertake several activities providing innovation support and capacity building of the local population in various aspects of technology development and innovation and intellectual property and innovation awareness events. RISP has implemented several interventions in rural and peri-urban areas across the country.

Interventions have been introduced especially in the rural areas of (i) KwaZulu-Natal, (ii) Limpopo and (iii) the Eastern Cape:

a) KwaZulu-Natal

  • RISP has funded the development of a Feasibility Study for the establishment of an Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre and Makerspace in Manguzi in KZN. Key recommendations included:
  • Potential opportunities for R&D and manufacturing of African traditional medicines and dietary supplements, including natural extracts containing bioactive ingredients from traditional medicinal plants.
  • Potential manufacturing of related products based on the flora and other natural ingredients endemic in the area (e.g. cosmetics).
  • A need to review the KZN IKS based plants database to enable a deeper understanding of the fauna and flora in the area and to assist in identifying a comprehensive list of plants that the Manguzi-based IKS holders and innovators can develop and commercialise.
  • A need to develop a mechanism to engage IKS knowledge holders/IP to avoid potential exploitation.
  • A need to create an IKS plants booklet for 2024/25 to enlist the IKS plants in Manguzi as a starting point of the project.
  • The study recommended that the IKS makerspace centre be piloted using available infrastructure whilst raising funds to establish a permanent facility.
  • It also suggests that the centre could start by offering quarterly training programmes on topics such as drying, processing and pricing of IK products.
  • Consensus amongst regional stakeholders was that applications for machinery and equipment funding and technology development support must be submitted to the Industrial Development Corporation and the Technology Innovation Agency for consideration.
  • To unlock some of the economic opportunities mentioned above, the study proposes the implementation of the IKS Makerspace by initially starting with an incubation programme, laboratory space for product development, bench scale facilities, co-working spaces and training facilities.
  • While a potential site has been identified, with the support of the traditional authorities in the area, the Manguzi IKS Centre and Makerspace has not yet secured the required funding for implementation.

b) Limpopo

RISP has supported the establishment of 2 Regional Innovation Networking Platforms in Limpopo. The first is AgriTourZA, which is headquartered in Polokwane but has implemented activities across the province. AgriTourZA has implemented the following activities:

  • Design Thinking Workshop – This programme seeks to equip innovators, technology entrepreneurs and tertiary students with a creative and innovative problem-solving mindset by adopting customer-centred approach to creating effective solutions.
  • Online Bootcamp – which provide learning experience in various aspects of innovation, business development, and digital skills, and they include training to Business Model Canvas, development of Minimum Viable Product/prototypes and Pitching techniques.
  • Digital Entrepreneurship training workshops – which seeks to upskill entrepreneurs with digital knowledge, entrepreneurship and tools.
  • An Annual Innovation Challenge, which brings together startups within the Agri-tech and Tourism-tech industries, aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned industry professionals, and key stakeholders, with the aim to demonstrate the innovation potential of the Limpopo Province.

The second RINP in Limpopo is the Blouberg Innovation Networking Platform, which has the following activities:

  • Training and capacity development for agriculture and agricultural production using smart technologies. The practical training covers crop production, coding, basic electronics and Internet of Things (IoT), with specific reference to agriculture.
  • Intellectual Property (IP) awareness workshops – seeks to create awareness on IP and equip beneficiaries with basic knowledge and protection of IP.
  • Innovation Awareness Campaigns – these campaigns focus on conscientising regional stakeholders and potential entrepreneurs on the role of innovation in local economic development.
  • Smart Agriculture Hackathon – these hackathons create a collaborative environment for innovators and technology SMMEs, aimed at solving problems facing the region, as well as identifying innovation opportunities.
  • Mentorship and coaching support to innovators and technology SMMEs
  • Facilitating access to appropriate support offered by entities within the National System of Innovation.
  • Linking innovators and SMMEs with other innovation support entities.
  • Assisting beneficiaries to translate their ideas into proof of concepts and prototypes through network partners.

a) quantifiable benefits have rural communities reaped from provincial and rural innovation and production systems so far.

The RISP interventions in rural areas have created access to, and awareness of, innovation support mechanisms and programmes and provided some capacitation of local populations to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by a knowledge driven economy.

Several innovators and technology SMMEs from the RINPs have competed, and placed, in national Innovation Challenges and Competitions as a result of the support received through the RINPs. The beneficiaries of the rural-based RISP interventions are as follows:

 

F

M

Total

B

601

982

1583

W

0

0

0

Total

601

982

1583

Training:

Workshops:

 

F

M

Total

B

191

424

615

W

0

0

0

Total

191

424

615

Mentorship:

 

F

M

Total

B

48

115

163

W

0

0

0

Total

48

115

163

Innovation for Local Economic Development (ILED) is a new approach to Local Economic Development (LED), introduced by the DSTI, which is anchored on the notion of organising a local economy around a local system of innovation and centering innovation as a driver of inclusive development. Among the programmes of ILED, the DSTI has introduced and funded the Living Labs Programme, the Innovation Champions for LED Programme (IC4LED) and the Mobile Application Labs (mLabs) in rural and township communities.

In the rural communities of Bofolo in Fort Beaufort (Eastern Cape) and Bhongweni in Kokstad (KwaZulu Natal), the DSTI has supported the establishment of 2 new living labs. A newly established mLab has been setup in the Imbali community of Pietermaritzburg at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). In the Vhembe District of Limpopo, the DSTI introduced the first pilot site of the IC4LED.

a) Living Labs Programme

The Bofolo and Bhongweni living labs have been setup to service communities in Bofolo and Bhongweni, respectively. In partnership with the Raymond Mhlaba, and the Great Kokstad Local Municipalities together with other LED stakeholders, the labs provide creative spaces comprised of innovation support infrastructure and development programmes. The labs support the development of solutions to promote innovation-driven local economies by enabling young innovators and other innovation actors, through skills transfer and enterprise development, to create and diffuse solutions to systemic challenges in those economies.

Both labs are currently undergoing some upgrades to ensure that they are fully equipped with internet connectivity, rapid prototyping equipment, 3-D printing and other equipment to provide maker-spaces. To date, 37 beneficiaries (25 in Bofolo and 12 in Bhongweni) have gone through the Innovation Support Programme, receiving support to translate their ideas into social innovations that have the potential to contribute to the transformation of the local economies. The beneficiaries are mainly unemployed youth. The training they have received includes: ideathons, hackathons, Design Thinking, prototype development, drone training, etc.

b) mLab

A new mLab site within the Indumiso Campus of DUT, in the Imbali community, was established in 2023/24. Since its establishment, 369 community members from Imbali and surrounding areas were involved in ICT, 4IR and entrepreneurship ecosystem building events (i.e. building pipeline of trainees) and 20 students were enrolled in a 5-month Code Skills training programme that led to the development of 3 website solutions for locally identified socio-economic priorities.

b) IC4LED, Vhembe District

For municipalities to foster innovation-driven LED, they must be capacitated through training, knowledge, and skilled people (i.e. Innovation Champions) as resources to support the innovation agenda. The IC4LED Programme has ensured that Innovation Champions are placed in the District LED office, the Local LED offices and the University of Venda (UniVen) to support the municipalities as they carry out the following tasks:

  • Coordinating the mapping of local innovation systems using the Local Innovation Advancement Tool (LIAT).
  • Utilising LIAT in the development of Integrated Development Planning processes.
  • Incorporating innovation in LED strategies and implementation plans.
  • Creating linkages among actors and agents within local innovation systems and building linkages between local systems and the National System of Innovation (NSI).
  • Sourcing funding and expertise from NSI institutions to implement innovation-based LED interventions.

To date, 6 Innovation Champions have been placed in the LED offices and UniVen. A LED Strategy for the District has been developed with maximum participation from the communities, foregrounding innovation as a driver of development in the localities. The project has catalysed the following investments from different organisations for innovation-based LED interventions:

  • Approximately R450,000 for rainwater harvesting engagements in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality.
  • Over R850,000 from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation for community hackathons around energy solutions and to develop a strategy on how to further develop the proposed solutions.
  • R560,000 for 14 solutions developed in communities.
  • R2,000,000 from the National Youth Development Agency for training of young people in ecommerce and entrepreneurship.

Source file