Sebokeng: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the Innovation Hub, is hosting an innovation workshop at the eKasi Labs Sebokeng, at the Vaal University of Technology Science Park. This is part of its mandate to support South African innovators from idea, development of prototypes, protection of intellectual property, and commercialisation.

According to South African Government News Agency, the workshop aims to identify and unearth innovative solutions available in the care of the Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub, a science and technology park based in Gauteng, focuses on driving innovation and economic development. It is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) and acts as the province’s innovation agency. The Hub aims to foster a culture of innovation, support entrepreneurs, and promote the growth of knowledge-intensive businesses.

The Acting Chief Director of Innovation and Technology at the dtic, Takalani Ramuthaga, emphasized that innovation has a direct link to economic growth and development. She noted a correlation between innovative and industrialised countries, suggesting that engaging with township innovators can stimulate local economic activity and growth within these communities.

A total of eight workshops have been scheduled in Gauteng townships where the Innovation Hub has its eKasi Labs programme infrastructure. These workshops will enable township entrepreneurs to access information on innovation support instruments and other dtic incentives.

Apart from information dissemination, the workshops aim to identify gaps that innovation support programmes should bridge between the markets and local communities. This includes addressing innovation in townships and rural areas that policies and strategies may not have adequately covered.

Ramuthaga highlighted the existence of valuable knowledge in townships and rural areas, which often lack infrastructure and services. She stressed that people innovate for survival and develop valuable knowledge. To capitalize on this, government intervention is needed in the form of funding, exposure, and forming linkages with existing instruments.

These workshops are designed to identify and unearth innovative solutions, as well as create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation. They will also raise awareness of the valuable knowledge and skills present in townships and identify innovations that can be supported through existing dtic instruments and other role players.