The CSIR and MIGHT delegation outside the Knowledge Commons
CSIR Strategic Alliances, Berenice Lue Marais, hosted the Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) workshop in June 2012 at the CSIR Knowledge Commons. The workshop was initiated by Major-General (Ret) Otto Schür from Denel and, Brigadier-General (Ret) John Wesley, CSIR Defence, Peace, Safety and Security’s (DPSS) Contract R&D Manager.
Schür explained that he would like to see South Africa taking a team approach to responding to technology opportunities and this was an excellent platform for the CSIR, Denel and MIGHT to identify joint opportunities with Malaysia
“South Africa and Malaysia have entered into several bilateral agreements in the past. Now we (the CSIR, Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and Department of Science Technology (DST) want to turn those agreements into business opportunities and projects,” explained Lue Marais.
The MIGHT delegation specifically expressed interest in the automotive industry, green technologies and aero structures. Vice President of Consultancy and offset Management Services (COMS) at MIGHT, Major Zalani Saruri said that he was impressed with the CSIR’s capabilities in the areas of hydrogen and fuel cells, biocomposites and titanium and platinum. He expressed a desire to take the discussions further and would be following up in a few weeks through Denel.
.jpg) Brigadier-General (Ret) John Wesley and Beeuwen Gerryts |
The delegation also visited the CSIR’s Port Elizabeth office to get an in-depth overview of biocomposites. The visit was facilitated by Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia, CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing (MSM) Polymers and Composites Competency Area Manager; and Rajesh Anandjiwala, CSIR MSM Biocomposites Research Group Leader.
Schür thanked Lue Marais and Wesley for putting together an excellent programme, which exposed the delegates to the CSIR’s world-class capabilities in a multidisciplinary fashion. Lue Marais indicated that in addition to these discussions, the CSIR and Denel are working on signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in order for Denel to gain broader access to CSIR’s capabilities in the areas of hydrogen and fuel cells, biocomposites and platinum, and enhance collaboration opportunities between the two institutions.
