Programme Director, Dr Mlungisi Cele;
The Professor Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation;
Mr Tilson Manyoni, Chairperson of National Advisory Council on Innovation;
Academics, Researchers, Panellists and Delegates;
Members of the Media;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, is my honour to welcome all of you to this inaugural National System of Innovation Transformation Summit.
It is indeed true that science, technology and innovation (STI) can serve as a catalyst for a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all. Nowhere does this ring truer than in South Africa.
In a country such as South Africa where for many decades successive governments denied the majority of the population access to science and technology with the singular aim of holding them down, it is absolutely crucial to ensure that the levers of scientific knowledge are as universally accessible as possible.
It is widely acknowledged that through science and technologies countries which were lagging behind can catch up with developed countries in a relatively short space of time. China and India and living examples of this truism.
This is the truth that the GPG has taken to heart. It is for this reason that we are encouraged by this inaugural Summit which reaffirms the strategic value of national systems of innovation.
Within the context of both the National Development Plan (NDP) and the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation as government policy, Gauteng has launched its own 4IR Growth and Digitisation Strategy in 2021.
We consider this intervention an important policy responses to expand the role that STI can play in re-industrialisation, service delivery, modernising government services, among others.
The Five-Year Strategy of our Department of e-Gov finds expression within GPG’s priorities as articulated in the Growing Gauteng Together, our Roadmap to 2030. As a development vision, the GGT2030 is a provincial iteration of the National Development Plan.
The NDP itself recognises that ‘South Africa’s global competitiveness needs to be improved, and the system of innovation has a key role to play. It is the principal tool for creating new knowledge, applying knowledge in production processes, and disseminating knowledge through teaching and research collaboration.’
In view of this considerations, the GPG has charged the Department of e-Governance with the mandate to modernise government services through the broadband infrastructure, connectivity and digitisation of government services to stimulate economic growth and creation of employment.
Digital transformation is rapidly changing the way our economy and society work and further dictates the way government will function in the future The GPG has therefore recognised the imperative to embrace new technologies and innovations, both in response to the evolving demands of residents and to ensure high quality, relevant and cost-effective service delivery to all the people of our province.
The key drivers and outputs of the Province is to ensure continuous digital innovation and industry stimulation by empowering youth in order to stimulate the economic growth of the province.
We consider investment in human capital Gauteng’s and by extension South Africa’s greatest opportunity. The 4th IR gives us a rallying point of urgency and opportunity to redesign, streamline and align the education system through a co-ordinated, robust, multi-stakeholder process. Investment in our youth is the best way to claim the future.
We believe that through this approach we stand a good chance of leapfrogging the residents of Gauteng into productive work and reskilling current workers for job retention and ongoing productive work in the economy.
Modernisation is the function of leveraging scientific knowledge in order to drive national goals. It is through this act of generating cutting edge knowledge systems that society takes qualitative leaps forward.
Yet knowledge itself presupposes research and development. For us in Gauteng research and development with the aim of enhancing knowledge systems becomes all the more important given our province’s strategic location as the hub of the country’s economy.
Building capacities and capabilities enables countries and regions to innovate and stay ahead of the game in this cutthroat, globalised world. Innovation is at the heart of a country’s and region’s progression along the developmental path. Innovation finds new and more efficient ways of solving the problems faced by every part of society. And a society that does not innovate can never do more, with less.
Given that innovation plays an important role in driving future growth, the GPG is seeking to accelerate policy efforts aimed at strengthening the national innovation systems within the provincial context.
These efforts include the introduction of broad measures to improve performance in areas like R&D, education, entrepreneurial activity and knowledge flows---all of which are key determinants for innovative activity.
The Gauteng Innovation Strategy begins by explicitly recognising the importance which must be attached to socially-oriented innovations. At the same time, recognising that communities themselves are the source of innovation, as well as individuals, will provide direction as to how, why and where we should be supporting innovation. It will also help in understanding the benefits that can arise from innovation.
Through the Department of Economic Development and its agencies, Gauteng is seized with creating and facilitating interactions between universities and private sector organisations as well as establishing eco-system based approaches and relationships with national government and its agencies to ensure effective implementation of the strategy.
We look to leverage partnerships, drawing on the rich institutional expertise residing in our province in order to advance towards this all-important goal of a 4IR compliant Gauteng.
Programme Director;
Our most critical challenge is to build the skills base needed to drive and sustain change in the lives of our people. The ability of GPG to be part of the 4IR depends on the people of Gauteng, our most valuable resources.
We are committed to invest in our employees. The GPG ICT skills strategy aims to identify the digital skills we need to drive and sustain digital transformation and development of an effective, inclusive and exciting provincial government ecosystem that every resident of Gauteng can be proud of.
As we gather here for what is a strategic reflection on the best pathways to Science and Technology Innovation, the GPG wishes you well. Innovation requires perpetual learning to re-imagine creative ways to solve complex social problems confronting our nation today.
I am confident that out of this Summit will issue forth luminous pathways for an accelerated and much more focused National System of Innovation. The time has come for our nation to enhance the role of science, technology and innovation to catalyse a society less defined by inequality, unemployment and poverty.
Through harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation we can jump-start our economy for growth, development and inclusivity and leapfrog out nation into the 21st century without limping through the stages first taken by developed countries.
I thank you for your kind attention as you wrestle with this critical challenge on which depends the future of our nation.
