Subscribe

GE unveils R500m innovation centre in SA

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 27 Jun 2016
The centre is the 10th GE Innovation Centre globally and the first innovation centre for GE in Africa.
The centre is the 10th GE Innovation Centre globally and the first innovation centre for GE in Africa.

GE, one of the world's biggest digital industrial companies, last week officially opened its R500 million 2 700 square metre facility, the GE Africa Innovation Centre, in Johannesburg.

The centre is the 10th GE Innovation Centre globally and the first innovation centre for GE in Africa. According to GE, it is the first green and Leed-certified GE building in sub-Saharan Africa, and will be GE's centre of excellence for innovation in Africa.

Some of the African-inspired innovations that will be on show at the centre include the handheld Vscan-Pocket Ultrasound. The Vscan is a technology in healthcare that has contributed to increasing access to quality and affordable healthcare to rural communities across Africa. This has positively impacted maternal health in Africa, in particular.

The building was more than 90% built, designed, and executed by local businesses. It will be the home to GE's innovation across Africa within its key business sectors, such as aviation, energy, healthcare, oil and gas, power and transportation, and will serve as the new headquarters for GE Healthcare.

The centre will also be a hub that seeks to accelerate supplier development in SA through equipping SMEs to participate in the GE value chain.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Jay Ireland, president and CEO for GE Africa, said: "Innovation is shaping how we see the world and how we participate in its development today and into the future.

"GE is committed to driving innovation in Africa for Africa through supporting skills and SME development. The GE Africa Innovation Centre is one platform through which we are using our resources to empower ourselves and our stakeholders to positively contribute towards the sustainable development of Africa. We are looking to impact and enhance the career aspirations of over 100 engineers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. These are young people who will come through the centre and share their innovative solutions while learning from some of the best GE minds in their respective fields. They will work across GE's product portfolio and deliver simplified world-class products to GE customers."

The students will be enrolled over a period of time, through the universities that have partnered with GE.

Speaking at the opening, the Gauteng MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, said: "The Gauteng Department of Health is always working tirelessly with all the relevant stakeholders, and this initiative will play a significant role in reducing the infant and maternal mortality rate in the province."

The centre will enable skills and SME development in Africa and serve as the basecamp for the Londvolota Enterprise Development Trust, which launched in 2015 with a commitment to accelerating supplier development in SA and the equipping of SMEs to participate in the GE value chain.

In SA, GE has partnered with Transnet to manufacture locomotives for export into the rest of Africa; and on the healthcare side, it was selected as the key technology provider for the new Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, due to open later this year.

Share