South Africa: Innovation in Technology Stimulates Economic Growth

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BuaNews (Tshwane)

28 August 2008
Posted to the web 28 August 2008

Bathandwa Mbola
Johannesburg

Innovation in the world of science and technology is important in stimulating shared economic growth, says Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Speaking at the Southern African Women's Inventors and Innovators Symposium (SAWIIS) two-day conference Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said government's policies recognise that there is a direct correlation between economic growth and scientific and technological capacity.

"As part of government's Ten-Year Innovation plan for South Africa, we intend to improve innovation and invention so that we further enhance entrepreneurs, job creation and regional development."

She said it was therefore necessary to partner with research institutions, industry and academia.

Providing some of the measures that government was has embarked on to improve women's access to finances, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said these included micro-financing arrangements where the major financial institutions are provided with incentives to provide loans to women entrepreneurs.

The Deputy President said that the Technology for Women in Business programme was aimed at encouraging women to enter the arena of technology and to use this technology o improve the performance of their businesses.

Others she said included skills development and training directed of potential women entrepreneurs in both the urban and rural areas and mentorship and learnership opportunities for women seeking to become entrepreneurs.

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said those who had succeeded in this field must become role models and nurturers of talent, especially among boys and girls and especially the girl-child.

"You can play your role by advising youngsters to secure their inventions through copyright and patents, advise them on how to write a business plan, where to access financial support and point them to institutions such as the National System of Innovation," she said, adding that this was a network of players that interact to constitute the country's innovation system.

"Boosting Sustainability through Innovation", is the theme of the inventors and innovators symposium, which brings together over 1500 attendee's from businesses, major corporations, educational institutions and government agencies including women's groups from across world.

Hosted by government, in partnership with the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network (GWIIN), the symposium aims to develop a global network of women inventors and innovators.

Further it seeks to develop a culture of innovation and invention within Southern African women, and to create an environment in which successes and challenges can be shared.

The symposium also forms a part of commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the Women's Anti-Pass March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This historic march was a turning point in the history of the country and transformed the role of women in the struggle for freedom.

For this reason, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said government recognised that women are the backbone of the second economy.

"In South Africa, the empowerment of women has to be about dealing with the legacy of apartheid and about the transformation of the whole society. Only if all of society transforms and power relations between women, men, institutions and laws have been aligned, can our work be done," said Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka.

On Friday at the end of the symposium, the delegates are expected to march to the Union Buildings to present the petition of the resolution and outcomes of the symposium.

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