Minister inaugurates TIA board

Johannesburg, 07 Jul 2009

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has met the July deadline for the opening of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

In 2008, the DST announced the TIA would be functional by July and called for nominations for board members. Cabinet approved the board in April.

Speaking at the inauguration of the board, science and technology minister Naledi Pandor welcomed the long-awaited agency. Pandor also announced the TIA's budget for this financial year is set at R720 million, which has been allocated to it from the budgets of existing agencies which are being incorporated into the new agency.

“Hopefully, the board will start its work this week. It's a baby that's been a long time in the making. We do have a history of being leading creators of new ideas. We have the people with the ability to develop new ideas. But we haven't used that creative base to establish new products and new economic activities. We've supported research but not taken that support to actual commercialisation,” said Pandor.

The TIA was established under the Technology Innovation Agency Bill, which was signed into law by the president in November 2008. This legislation forms part of the department's 10-year plan to promote innovation through funding, support and commercialisation. The objective of the agency is to support SA in stimulating technological innovation in order to improve economic growth.

Chairperson of the board, Dr Ramphele Mamphele, acknowledged that, unlike many start-ups, the agency already had established a good foundation.

“Our researchers have fantastic ideas, but they can't find funding. The TIA will do due diligence on all proposals. They must not only be good ideas, they must be fundable ideas, bankable ideas. Initial funding may come from us, but as the product matures, it becomes more attractive to private sector funding. The idea is that the TIA will act as a bridge between government funding and private sector funding.”

Pandor added that the agency would ensure local research and development was turned into commercial products and services, and that plans to use the local science and technology base to develop new industries and create sustainable jobs, would be developed.

“The task of the board is to develop sustainable development. The agency will have to alert South Africa to the possibilities and sanction popular support for creativity and inventiveness,” she said.

Cheryl Carolus, chairperson of Peotona, and Dr Steven Cornelius, executive member of the South African Veterinary Council, will sit on the board. Other members include professor Susan Harrison, chairperson of the board of the Cape Biotechnology Trust; Ilan Lax, an expert in the legal and justice system; and Dr Nhlanhla Msomi, president of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Dr Patrick Ngwenya, director of CKS investments at Unisys Africa; Ross Norton, chairman of SA Bioproducts; Craig Venter, CEO of Altech; and Helen Brown, who sits on the board of the Tshumisano Trust, have also been selected.