State’s tech innovation agency negotiates international deals

THE government agency set up to bridge the innovation gap and commercialise research and development output from higher education institutions, science councils, public entities and the private sector, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), was part of a South African delegation led by the Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation Professor Blade Nzimande to Chengdu, China last month.

According to TIA, an entity of the department, the aim of the high-level visit was to advance and strengthen cooperation between South African National System of Innovation institutions and their counterparts in China, and the visit has shown the real economic benefits that rests in China for South African innovations.

The TIA delegation included board chairperson, Loyiso Tyira, acting CEO Ismail Abdoola, and GM: strategic partnerships, business development and stakeholder relations, Tandokazi Nquma-Moyo. Also included were four TIA supported entities, which represented an investment portfolio of around R148 million. TIA says its participation in the visit bolsters its internationalisation agenda, which is to leverage resources, open global markets, promote collaboration, and create market access opportunities for its investees.

According to TIA, the agency enables and supports technology innovation across all sectors of the economy to deliver socio-economic benefits for South Africa and to enhance its global competitiveness, which made the China visit essential for TIA’s objectives.  The ministerial visit to China presented engagement opportunities with industries including Huawei, BYD and the Climate Energy Centre.

 The four TIA supported entities, Microcare Energy, KTO Digital, uYilo and AI Diagnostics, showcased their innovative technologies at the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology. The event gathered attendees from over 100 countries and international organisations.

TIA-supported entities established connections which will be supported through the China Africa Innovation Corporation Center, an institution dedicated to supporting collaboration between Africa and China institutions.

 One of the key strategies TIA employs to deliver on its mandate is fostering mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships with various organisations locally and internationally. During the SA-China visit, TIA formalised its cooperation with the Cuban organisation of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, BioCubaFarma.

 TIA and BioCubaFarma signed a Cooperation Agreement for cooperation in the biotechnology sector, supporting pharmaceutical and bio-based innovations. The signing with BioCubaFarma is a culmination of discussions that began during a SA-Cuba Ministerial visit in April 2024 for cooperation in the biotechnology sector, according to TIA BioCubaFarma manages the Cuban efforts toward manufacturing medicines, diagnostics and medical equipment and providing high quality life science services to improve healthcare.

South Africa, as part of deepening its relations within BRICS to foster innovation and drive economic transformation is continually enhancing its cooperation through several bilateral engagements with other member countries, according to TIA.

These efforts include joint initiatives in areas like digital entrepreneurship, green energy, and sustainable agriculture, to position itself as a key player in the digital economy. To this end, TIA recently launched a joint call for proposals with the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), aimed at promoting joint technology development between South African and Russian innovative enterprises.

“The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s Decadal Plan emphasises a shift to internationalisation from a singular focus on R&D to a science diplomacy approach focused on promoting collaboration on innovation. These partnerships – such as the ones we signed in China – contribute significant collateral capital in the form of funding, skills, market access, knowledge capital, technology development capabilities and facilities,” says Ismail Abdoola, acting CEO of the Technology Innovation Agency.

“Partnerships at local and international level remain an important enabler for TIA to succeed in executing its mandate. Our visit to China helped us secure several partnerships which we will nurture and grow as we deliver on our mandate to the innovators of South Africa,” says Abdoola.