Johannesburg, 06 Apr 2005
Key figures in business and government gathered in Pretoria yesterday to officially open the Innovation Hub, SA's first internationally accredited Science Park.
The hub is one of 11 projects of the Gauteng government's Blue IQ initiative to invest in economic infrastructure development in the province. Blue IQ has invested R318 million in the hub's development.
The site is open to both start-up and existing companies, said Innovation Hub CEO Dr Neville Comins. "Part of the aim here is to establish a community. So far, the tenant uptake of eight companies has exceeded expectations, and we expect the multi-tenant enterprise building to be fully leased by June."
The Innovation Hub is a member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and the National Business Incubation Association, which links it to 300 Science Parks in 65 countries, giving it access to experience from similar initiatives.
IASP board member Sten Gunnar Johansson, who attended the launch, said the hub could create high levels of revenue and employment. "We have 185 companies at a Science Park I helped set up overseas. In time, I think you people here are going to exceed that."
Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa said the hub is a result of a deliberate decision to invest in strategic economic infrastructure to promote the knowledge economy and value-added manufacturing.
[VIDEO]"Building Gauteng as a 'global city region' will require not just closer co-operation between government, parastatals and the private sector. It will need a practical alignment of spatial and sector development plans, as well as provincial and city development strategies, integrated development plans and local economic development strategies," said Shilowa.
"The Innovation Hub is in a sense a microcosm of our broader growth strategy."
Share