Inside Metros Reporter
More than 100 local and aspiring innovators from Vhembe gathered at the University of Venda this week for an “innovation workshop” to promote financial and technical support for new technologies.
The event formed part of a series of workshops the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) is rolling out across the country.
Partners for the event included Vhembe District Municipality, University of Venda, and Vhembe Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The department said the programme intends to unearth technologies from underdeveloped rural and township communities, create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation, and encourage focused technology development and innovative thinking.
Local Economic Development Manager of the Vhembe District Municipality, Mukundi Mushaphi, said the workshop came at a critical time for the area, which has been selected by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to implement innovation-led local economic development.
”This innovation workshop came at the right time and is in line with our ongoing efforts to place innovation at the heart of local economic development.
“The dtic innovation support programmes will boost our efforts as we continue to implement mechanisms to harness innovation for economic development. Our innovators will definitely appreciate financial and non-financial support from the department. They need it. We need it. It will add impetus to our efforts,” said Mushaphi.
Participants were briefed on the financial and non-financial support that innovators can access from the dtic to develop and commercialise their ideas. This includes assistance with prototype development, protection of intellectual property and taking new products and services to market.
Mushaphi said Vhembe had a strong base of talent and examples of achievement that could be expanded if local innovators were properly supported.
“Vhembe has a lot of potential innovators who are ready to flourish and those who have flourished, including the late engineer, inventor, and Professor Mulalo Doyoyo and the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Tshilidzi Marwala.”
He said the municipality viewed innovation as central to tackling structural challenges.
“Our municipality is still faced with poverty, unemployment, inequality and underdevelopment. If the local entrepreneurs are supported unemployment will be reduced,” stressed Mushaphi.
Mushaphi also emphasised the importance of collaboration between municipal authorities, higher education institutions and training colleges to fully “unearth the innovation potential in the municipality”.
Speaking at the same event, the Acting Chief Director of Operations in the Investment and Spatial Industrial Development branch of the dtic, Takalani Ramuthaga, said the department provides support to a wide range of sectors across the country and is working to deepen its reach into districts such as Vhembe.
“The dtic aims to broaden the reach of its support incentives, especially in areas such as Vhembe, where communities are actively working to improve their lives. The dtic has brought information on instruments for innovation and manufacturing support, and engaged local innovators and entrepreneurs such as the avocado oil factory recently opened in Dovheni,” said Ramuthaga.
She said partnerships were necessary to unlock innovation, build industrial capacity and promote more inclusive patterns of economic growth.
“Your innovations have a direct link to economic growth and development. We need to engage further so that we can work together to stimulate local economic activity and growth in your communities,” she said.
INSIDE METROS