Transnet is implementing its market demand strategy to expand and modernise the country’s ports, rail and pipelines infrastructure with a view to achieve a significant increase in freight volumes and to promote economic growth in South Africa. This is supported by a R300 billion investment programme, which is the main pillar behind the strategy.
Themba Gwamanda from the Shared Services Project Management Office
Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in February this year, the CSIR’s partnership with Transnet has steadily gained momentum in broadening the scope of the R&D collaboration between the two organisations.
(Recap on what Dr Rachel Chikwamba, Group Executive: CSIR Strategic Alliances and Communication had to say about the CSIR’s business development strategy earlier this year.)
One of the milestones of the partnership is the phased relocation of more than 400 Transnet personnel to the CSIR’s Scientia campus.
Themba Gwamanda from the Shared Services Project Management Office says that the partnership with Transnet is exciting from an R&D and a facilities management perspective. “It pulls together the strategic and operational muscle from Team CSIR to really enable the organisation to partner comprehensively, offering world-class expertise and facilities.” He continues, “We are delighted to welcome the first 25 Transnet staff members who have already relocated to building 44. These talented engineering professionals will be working with researchers at the CSIR.”
On the R&D side, Charl Harding, CSIR Key Account Manager for the Transnet partnership, explains the CSIR’s ultimate objective of the partnership. He says, “We want this collaboration to benefit the economy, society and the environment that we live in. Developing a strategic partnership with Transnet allows the partnership to maximise the impact through the resources of the two organisations.”
Charl Harding, CSIR Key Account Manager for the Transnet partnership
He continues, “Transnet has an enormous impact on the country’s logistical footprint and by improving the logistical supply chain through research, development and innovation, we can improve not just the South African economy, but also the quality of live in South Africa by lowering the cost of transporting consumer goods.”
The scope of the relocation project
Providing insight on what the relocation project entails, Themba explains, “The project entails accommodating a large number of people, with both time and space being at a premium; as well as the concomitant challenge of relocating some CSIR labs currently in building 21 to another building.” He continues, “The project is two-fold; firstly, to provide immediate but temporary accommodation in building 44, and secondly, to hand over building 21 to Transnet for longer-term use. The latter will be spread over a two-year period, with various deliverables during the time. Building 21 is expected to eventually house about 450 colleagues from Transnet, while building 44 will accommodate about 70.”
Why the CSIR
Explaining more about why Transnet chose to partner with the CSIR, Charl says, “The CSIR was selected by Transnet as its strategic partner to assist with a research and development project to provide technologies and decision support in the expansion of its market demand strategy. The CSIR has also developed a strong relationship with Transnet Engineering (a division of Transnet), the focus of which is to develop new product and services for the African and international markets.”
“Transnet Engineering is partnering with the CSIR to help develop intellectual property that will be used in the development of new products and services which can compete in the designated markets. Gaining the competitive advantage in a well-established market will require innovative solutions, which the CSIR can provide.”
“With the implementation, Transnet also has a strategy to expand its current market and footprint to the rest of Africa through new infrastructure and products and services. Transnet Engineering is the primary drive behind the development on new products and services to satisfy not just the African market, but new markets like South America and Asia.”
“This is the first of, we hope, many partnerships where the full value proposition of Team CSIR can be harnessed – not only using the expertise of the SET base, but also of the support professionals,” concludes Themba.
News contributed by various CSIR role-players in this project.
15 November 2013
