By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
South Africa's Minister of
Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, has highlighted the
role of university-based Technology Stations in driving innovation-led
industrialisation, strengthening local manufacturing capacity and bridging the
gap between research and industry.
Nzimande delivered the
remarks during a ministerial visit to the Institute for Advanced Tooling (IAT)
at Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape, as part of the Department's
initiative to promote innovation-led industrialisation and foster regional value
chains.
During the visit, the
Minister emphasised the importance of providing enterprises, particularly those
operating in township and rural areas, with access to specialised equipment,
technical expertise and product development support.
The Institute for Advanced
Tooling offers capabilities in advanced manufacturing, computer numerical
control (CNC) machining, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM),
reverse engineering and metrology.
Through these services, the
Institute has supported 568 enterprises, produced 54 intellectual property and
knowledge-based products, and generated more than R5.1 million in additional
income.
Nzimande also emphasised the
need to strengthen local production by developing indigenous alternatives to
imported technologies.
The visit demonstrated how
university-based Technology Stations contribute to building local manufacturing
capacity, improving enterprise competitiveness and translating engineering
expertise into market-ready solutions.
The Department's initiative
forms part of broader efforts to leverage research, technological innovation
and institutional partnerships to strengthen South Africa's industrial
capabilities and support regional economic development.
