{"id":2167,"date":"2014-02-17T10:57:43","date_gmt":"2014-02-17T10:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/strategicpartnerships.csir.co.za\/?p=2167"},"modified":"2014-02-17T10:57:43","modified_gmt":"2014-02-17T10:57:43","slug":"giving-traction-to-csirdenel-mou-14-february-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strategicpartnerships.csir.co.za\/?p=2167","title":{"rendered":"Giving traction to CSIR\/Denel MoU, 14 February 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

The CSIR and Denel signed a Memorandum of Understanding<\/a> (MoU) in 2013.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the MoU, Berenice Lue; Group Manager Strategic Partnerships indicated that there are already ongoing collaborations on several projects between the CSIR and Denel. The intention is to take the partnership to an increased level of engagement that allows us to do more (projects of) mutual and national interest.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr Rachel Chikwamba, Group Executive: CSIR Strategic Alliances and Communication adds, \u201cFrom the CSIR perspective there are two strategic imperatives that should be driven strongly. The first one is the 2012 Defence Review draft, which seeks to look at defence capabilities that can be deemed strategic. We see the CSIR contributing research and development (R&D) and technology support, while Denel will focus on design, development and production and support of technologies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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CSIR\/Denel steering committee meet to move MOU agreement forward.<\/p><\/div>\n

The second high-level area of interest is the National Industrial Participation Programme (NIPP) announced by the Department of Public Enterprises. The programme seeks to leverage economic benefits and support the development of South African industry by using the instrument of government procurement effectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn these two areas I believe the CSIR, Denel and subsidiaries will form a team with unique and complimentary capabilities. If we position ourselves well we can take advantage of the policy framework and create value for the country,\u201d says Chikwammba.<\/p>\n

According to Jan Wessels, Denel Group\u00a0Chief Operating Officer, the partnership between the CSIR and Denel will help both government-owned organisations to optimise their collaboration. He says that projects will not take off immediately as \u201cit is important that we agree on what we want to accomplish,\u201d and look broadly at \u201cwhat is of common interest\u201d.<\/p>\n

Some of the projects under discussion are:<\/p>\n