The Innovation Hub, Africa's first accredited science and technology park, located in Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa, formalised its strategic partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Fondation Genevoise Pour L'innovation Technologique (FONGIT) and the Office for the Promotion of Industries and Technologies (OPI), in Geneva, Switzerland, to support the development of new enterprises in the ICT, green technology and biosciences sectors.
The Innovation Hub is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, which is an agency of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development.
The objectives of this MOU include the promotion of business-to-business collaboration and technological execution of projects of common interest, soft landing opportunities for companies from respective countries and strengthening enterprise development support needed to generate economic and social benefit.
The Innovation Hub's CEO, McLean Sibanda, said: "The signing of this MOU underlines the commitment of the three institutions to co-operate in growing innovative new enterprises, and exchange of best practices in technology incubation. The collaboration with FONGIT and OPI will yield many opportunities for technology start-ups in bothSouth AfricaandSwitzerland. As The Innovation Hub, we are delighted to be joining forces with globally recognised champions in technology-based innovation and entrepreneurial support, to build an export market for innovative South African technologies and identify inbound technology transfer opportunities in respect of European innovation and technology capabilities, locally."
According to Pierre-Francois Unger, State Councillor in charge of Economy, Health and Regional Affairs: "This important MOU represents a significant step in supporting enterprise development in both countries and intensifies our technology and socio-economic linkages. The main intention of the MOU is to strengthen collaboration and interaction between FONGIT, OPI and The Innovation Hub in order to grow and support ambitious, successful and prosperous start-up companies. We are delighted to have The Innovation Hub on board for the growth and success of entrepreneurs in the R&D sectors."
In March 2013, The Innovation Hub signed an agreement with the Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) to strengthen collaboration and interaction between the CSIR and The Innovation Hub in order to supportGauteng's regional innovation system. The partnership creates a platform for incubating the CSIR's start-up companies at the Maxum Business Incubator, housed at The Innovation Hub.
The collaboration with the CSIR will also greatly benefit from the FONGIT, OPI and The Innovation Hub partnership.
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