Lerato Mbhiza
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the inaugural Presidential Plenary on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to be held on Tuesday in Pretoria.
The STI Plenary will bring together leaders in government, industry, academia and civil society, to discuss progress of the National System of Innovation (NSI) and challenges in this sector and will explore ways for STI and skills development to impact positively on the South African economy.
Spokesperson for the Presidency Vincent Magwenya said the discussions will focus on progress of the National System of Innovation (NSI) and challenges in this sector, and will explore ways for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and skills development to impact positively on the South African economy.
“The White Paper introduced the concept of an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) on STI and a Presidential STI Plenary as instruments to enhance STI policy coherence, as well as programme and budget coordination in the South African national system of innovation”’.
“In this regard, the plenary will allow all role players to reflect collaboratively on progress with STI initiatives, and jointly commit resources for recommended STI initiatives’’.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee on STI established in March 2021 is led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and comprises Ministers of STI-intensive government departments.
“The President will also visit an exhibition of locally produced, market-ready innovations in areas such as space science, health and energy” he said.
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