Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor signed a joint statement on Swiss-SA science and technology cooperation with the head of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs, Didier Burkhalter, on Monday.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) says there are 16 joint research projects under the current Swiss-SA Joint Research Programme (SSAJRP) in the fields of public health and biomedicine (eight), bio- and nanotechnology (four), and human and social sciences (four).
“By the end of 2010, a total of 48 PhD and post-doc students were involved in the collaborative activities. Almost 80 young scholars have benefited from over 50 joint research programme exchange projects.”
Clean technology
The department adds that the parties have agreed to bring the current phase (2008-2011) of the JRP to a conclusion and to prepare in 2012 for the next four-year phase (2013-2016).
“Both parties agreed to include a wider network of institutional actors and to explore new possible common research fields such as renewable sources of energy, energy security and clean technology.”
The next joint meeting will take place in SA in the first half of next year, where the programme framework for the second phase will be conceptualised.
Pandor on Monday opened the "Swiss South African Biotech Business Development Summer Camp", in Geneva. The summer camp is a multi-faceted "science to market" initiative that is part of the JRP.
Expanding cooperation
In a joint statement released by the SA and Swiss parties, it was said the federal councillor and the minister assessed the development of the SSAJRP and discussed the future bilateral cooperation strategy in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
“The signatories note that significant progress has been made in advancing the objectives of bilateral cooperation, and are highly satisfied with the positive development and the smooth implementation of the bilateral science and technology cooperation strategy between the two countries.”
The statement also said with the appointment of a science and technology counsellor to the Swiss Embassy, in Pretoria in April 2010, an important hub was set up to help promote and expand cooperation between Switzerland and SA.
“Further key achievements under the SSAJRP include successful initiatives to foster academia and industry cooperation and, in particular, the launch of Biotechnology Entrepreneurship courses, the subsequent Summer Camps and the Seed Funding Call.”
It added that promising discussions took place in order to establish, in the near future, three joint research chairs between Swiss and South African academic institutions.
“Both ministries are strongly committed to extending and actively encouraging cooperation in the fields of science and technology in the years to come. They greatly value such cooperation as an important contribution towards addressing complex research issues and global challenges.”
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