Improvements to innovation systems are under way, but certain aspects are still being resolved, says the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
Last year, science and technology minister Naledi Pandor welcomed the long-awaited agency. Pandor also announced the TIA's budget for the current financial year, which is set at R720 million and has been allocated from the budgets of existing agencies, which are being incorporated into the TIA.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently called for proposals to help the agency develop “an optimal financial product suite and operating model” to enhance the work of the TIA. The agency is also busy migrating projects from entities which were incorporated into it, building stakeholder relationships and communication plans, and drafting recruitment policies to deal with scarce skills shortages.
“This is a critical component of the integration plan for TIA and will enable it to achieve its mandate of stimulating and intensifying technological innovation,” says the DST.
The TIA was established under the Technology Innovation Agency Bill, which was signed into law by the president in November 2008. 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.
Pandor previously stated the agency would have to give attention to providing early successes. The minister also called on the board to develop rigorous criteria for projects in order to establish project viability and the potential for commercialisation. She added that a public information campaign for the public, universities and other stakeholders would have to be drafted and implemented.
Entities such as the Innovation Fund, the Tshumisano Trust, the Advanced Materials Technology Strategy and the Biotechnology Innovation Centres, which include Lifelab, Cape Biotech, Plant Bio, BioPad, and the National Bioinformatics Network, have all been incorporated into the TIA.
The agency is headed by Ramphele Mamphele and the board members include Cheryl Carolus, Helen Brown and Craig Venter, among others.
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