The Department of Science and Technology (DST), in collaboration with the University of the Free State (UFS) and Central University of Technology Free State (CUT), is conducting a feasibility study for the possible establishment of a Free State science and technology park.
This comes after the recent launch of the Regional Innovation Forum (RIF), an initiative by the DST aimed at promoting innovation and economic growth across the various provinces of SA.
Professor Ryk Lues, RIF Free State project leader at CUT, says the proposed science and technology park would lead the technological and social innovations in the region and support collaborations between institutions such as universities, as well as industry and government. Through these collaborations, the park would support high-technology economic development and also advance knowledge, says Lues.
According to CUT spokesperson, Leandra Jordaan, the Free State will be one of the first provinces to implement this initiative. Jordaan says the DST has appropriated funds for CUT with the expectation that higher education, government, and formal and informal business sectors participate in the process. "Accordingly, discussions were held with a number of regional stakeholders, which included fruitful bilateral discussions between the CUT and UFS," she says.
The locality of the park is still in the discussion phase and will only be clear once the feasibility study has been completed, says Jordaan. However, the CUT is potentially a good candidate as it already has a science park on its campus.
Jordaan was unable to indicate when the feasibility study is expected to be complete, but says the project is regarded as high priority.
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