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McLean Sibanda is the new president of the International Association of Science Parks Advisory Council


Johannesburg, 05 Oct 2017

The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) named the Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Hub, McLean Sibanda, as the new president of its advisory council. He is taking over from Pierre Belanger (Bellatech, Canada).

The role of the advisory council is a consultative body and think-tank that helps the board of directors and Director General to manage the IASP knowledge and formulate new strategies for the association.

It advises on the trends around innovation around science parks, areas of innovation and comes up with strategies that empower not only the IASP, but also its members to be able to continue to be relevant and offer better services to their own stakeholders in fostering economic development and competitiveness.

Sibanda is an engineer and patent attorney. Since February 2011, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Hub, the innovation agency of the Gauteng Province responsible inter alia for a leading African Science Park based in Pretoria.

He has extensive experience in intellectual property, entrepreneurship, innovation, venture funding and incubation. He has been a judge in a number of local and international competitions, including the SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards, the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA), including serving as Chief Judge for the IPA 2015.

He has held senior and executive roles in both the private and public sector in South Africa. He has served as an Expert to the African Union (AU), SADC, World Intellectual Property Organisation (including undertaking various commissioned studies and tutoring the Advanced Patent Search course), and the Department of Science and Technology on intellectual property and innovation matters. He has served on the Boards of the CSIR and JM Busha; he is the immediate past President of the African Division of the IASP and also its immediate past Treasurer and Executive Board member; he was also Acting Executive Director of the Innovation Fund (2008-2010) and Group Executive for Commercialisation at the Technology Innovation Agency (2010-2011).

He currently serves on the boards of the National Intellectual Property Management Office as Chairperson, HySA Advisory Board as Vuze Chairperson, Meniko Records Management Services, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.

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International Association of Science Parks

IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. With nearly 400 members in 76 countries, it connects the professionals managing science, technology and research parks and other areas of innovation, and provides services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members. https://www.iasp.ws

Twitter: @InnovHub
Facebook: InnovhubZA

GGDA

The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), is an agency of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED). GGDA is the implementing arm of the GDED and assists the department in leading, facilitating and managing sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth and development in the Gauteng City Region.

The Innovation Hub

The Innovation Hub, a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), is the innovation agency of the Gauteng province and is responsible for managing Africa's first internationally accredited Science and Technology Park of the same name, and is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). Strategically located in Tshwane, South Africa's executive capital in the 'smart' province of Gauteng, The Innovation Hub implements initiatives identified in the Gauteng Innovation Strategy and Green Economy strategy to advance the economic development and growth of the Province through innovation. The Innovation Hub has created unique spaces, in Tshwane and the rest of the Gauteng province, for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists to meet, network and prosper.

For more information visit www.theinnovationhub.com

Editorial contacts

Linah Nematandani
The Innovation Hub
(+27) 12 844 0030
lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com