Mr Chairman,

Distinguished international and local guests,

Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I’m both honoured and privileged to welcome you to this, the International Aerospace Symposium of South Africa 2009.

IASSA is a cooperative combination of a number of leading South African conferences and symposia in the aerospace field.

It incorporates the Aeronautical Society’s Conference; the 3rd Flight Test Society of South Africa Symposium; the 3rd South African International Aerospace Symposium; together with the 3rd Technical Aerospace and Unmanned Systems Conference.

The intent is to hold an annual IASSA, and to cultivate the spirit of cooperation locally, in order for us to engage our international partners as a unit.

South Africa has a well established and competent aerospace technology sector

South Africa has a long-standing interest, even fascination, with the development of aerospace technologies.

The sector is small and is developing expertise in a range of key areas - including airframe manufacture, engine components; systems development, and the integration of fixed and rotor blade aircraft to advanced weapons systems.

Research and design capabilities exist at tertiary institutions, the CSIR and at private companies (large and small). One good example is the Centurion-based Aerosud, which is an accredited supplier to Boeing, Airbus and BAE systems.

At present South Africa is not in a position to design and manufacture an entire, fully-integrated aircraft system. Therefore, the emphasis has been placed on developing key competencies where South African companies can become part of the global supply chain of the major first and second-tier aerospace companies like Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Rolls-Royce, and Snecma.

The DST is committed to supporting this effort, notably by promoting international research cooperation.

Aircraft run primarily on fossil fuels, and fossil fuels will run out. Earth friendly sources of energy must be found. The future for motor vehicles, whilst still a little cloudy, has become a lot clearer of late, with the emergence of promising developments like electric cars, and hydrogen technologies. Similarly, researchers and technologists have begun to turn their attention to efficient fuel and materials for the aerospace industry. We in South Africa believe that we can make a meaningful contribution in this challenging arena.

South Africa has been strengthening the technological base and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector

For the benefit of our international partners, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you what my Department has been, and is still, doing to facilitate the growth of the aerospace industry in South Africa.

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS), established in 2003, is aimed at developing competencies in key areas in order to strengthen the technological base and competitiveness of the South African manufacturing sector.

The intention is to leverage South Africa’s role to be more than just a manufacturing and assembly location.

When the work of the AMTS turned its attention to identifying focus areas, the aerospace sector was identified as a key sector. In fact, an active aerospace network was mobilized, making a significant contribution to the work of the AMTS.

Even though the network is not currently active due to capacity constraints of the AMTS, I’m pleased to say that the network will be reactivated through the new Technology Innovation Agency.

Under the AMTS Technology programme, R&D projects are funded within the following three Flagship Programmes geared to advance the innovation capabilities across industry sectors:

-            Advanced Light Weight Materials,

-            Advanced Production Technologies and

-            Advanced Electronics.

Since the first project was funded in 2006, some 25 projects valued at R147 million have been initiated. These projects are undertaken by consortia comprising large industry, small and medium enterprises, tertiary institutions and science councils.

These projects are in line with my department’s initiatives to support the development of a competitive titanium downstream capability, and a fibre-reinforced composites industry utilizing natural fibres and bioresins.

The AMTS also funds the establishment of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratories (AMTLs). AMTLs are intended to be world-class laboratories that provide facilities for the design, development and prototyping of new products, as well as the development and transfer of relevant skills to support industry.

Three AMTLs are currently operating:

1. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) for automotive robotics;
2. Aerosud for production technologies, materials development and testing for the aviation industry; and
3. The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Adaptronics.

The latter has helped in creating a much-needed aeronautics knowledge base in a previously disadvantaged tertiary institution.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Research Group at CPUT developed skills in conceptualising, designing and manufacturing a prototype UAV as a technology demonstrator in under two years.

South Africa is in the process of establishing a titanium industry

South Africa has many valuable metals, including titanium.

The aerospace sector is the key target sector in the development of a titanium industry in South Africa.

This is in line with government’s beneficiation strategy.

The Department, through the resource-based industries unit, has supported titanium metal research and development (R&D) through the Light Metals Development Network (LMDN) of the Advanced Metals Initiative since 2006.

The research and development has established significant technological capacity and capability in South Africa.

Ti powder technology - the primary technology on which the SA industry will be based - promises major cost advantages through near net shape parts and limited waste as well as the fabrication of difficult alloys with unique properties.

This is the technology of the future, with significant technology and cost-saving implications for the aerospace industry.

The global aerospace industry has recognised South Africa’s unique record of innovative research in the field

South Africa has also been participating in the highly competitive European Union Framework Programme and this fact alone is an indication that we have come of age.

The aerospace field is one of the most competitive components of the Framework Programme. Thanks to concerted efforts by both the European Commission and the Department of Science and Technology − including through the work of our National Contact Points − South Africa’s success rate in this field is one of the highest non-EU participating countries.

In addition, South Africa facilitates the participation of other African countries in the Framework Programme. The Department is currently also a partner in an FP7 project, AeroAfrica-EU. Its objective is to create a platform for enhancing aeronautics and air transport research.

The AeroAfrica-EU project represents the first attempt to capture the aeronautics and air transport capabilities and needs of the EU and SA in a complementary manner, useable as qualitative tools to enhance further co-operation.

One of the objectives of this symposium is for South African and global partners to explore and conclude partnerships such as these, contribute to economic growth and competitiveness in South Africa, and also to global sustainable development.

May I, in closing, express our gratitude to our co-hosts for partnering with the Department in putting together this important initiative. I hope that the event will stimulate further thought, discussion and action.

I officially declare the event open and wish everyone a productive and thought-provoking symposium over the next three days.

Thank you.