Dr Chikwamba Welcomes UNECA and WAITRO to CSIR
Sharing expertise was high on the agenda when CEOs and delegated representatives from various African research institutes attended a two day workshop at CSIR Knowledge Commons in November 2012. The workshop which was held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) the World Association for Industrial and Technology Research Organisations (WAITRO) Regional Focal Point – with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) – focused on industrial research to promote manufacturing.
“We as research and technology organisations (RTOs) employ the largest numbers of the brightest minds that Africa has. Therefore the onus is on us to connect networks that are productive,” said Dr Rachel Chikwamba, CSIR Group Executive Strategic Alliances and Communication. “We should champion the development of Africa’s knowledge economy by crossing the borders between us. We need to share knowledge and leverage our intellectual resources much better,” she added.
Dr Victor Konde, UNECA Scientific Affairs Officer CHPC Student Cluster Challenge winners
The delegates – many of whom hold senior leadership positions at their respective institutions – shared best practises, successes and challenges. Discussions covered a range of topics such as the performance of regional science and technology platforms and initiatives as well as the national policies and support mechanisms that enable RTOs to serve as engines of growth. To illustrate how the CSIR achieves impact, Rosemary Wolson from the CSIR Licensing and Ventures office also shared the organisation’s technology transfer model.
In mapping a way forward, UNECA Scientific Affairs Officer Dr Victor Konde stressed the importance of formalising partnerships between the institutions which were represented at the workshop. “We need to identify common areas of work, establish flagships we can work on together and share our facilities and human resources,” said Konde.
Prof Charles Kwesiga, the 2nd Vice President of WAITRO and Berenice Lue Marais, manager at CSIR Strategic Alliances
Prof Charles Kwesiga – the 2nd Vice President of WAITRO – said the workshop provided a “excellent networking opportunity to promote Africa innovation and national systems of innovation” and thanked all the delegates for their attendance.
“It has been a pleasure to host each and every institution that was represented at the workshop,” said Berenice Lue Marais, CSIR Strategic Alliances Manager. “The challenges are great but we appreciate the time that the RTO leaders spent here as well as the knowledge that each of them shared.”
There was a great turn-out at the UNECA/WAITRO Regional Focal Point workshop on industrial research to promote manufacturing
Picture saved here: ftp://ftp.csir.co.za/SS/COMMS/Nonny/UNECA_WAITRO_Nov2012/
