The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is hosting a one-day workshop in Pretoria today (23 June), to explore the strengthening of innovation systems in the country's provinces.

Held at the Innovation Hub, the workshop themed "building capacity and collaborative networks at a regional level", is part of the DST's programme, the regional innovations systems, developed to strengthen innovation capacity in provinces.

A regional innovation system refers to how businesses, institutions and government (Triple Helix) jointly and individually play a part in promoting innovation processes within a province, and have a key role to play in economic development and national competitiveness. 

Thus, linkages between these various bodies are essential for turning knowledge into a competitive advantage to local economic development and strategies associated with innovation, applied to create jobs for people who lack advanced education and skills typical of the knowledge economy.  

The Department's Regional Innovation Systems Strategic Framework (RISSF) provides broad guidelines for partners at a local level to further enhance and develop their own systems. 

Delegates will present innovation knowledge and feedback on similar activities such as in Limpopo, the Western Cape, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. 

They will also be given an updated report on the Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa (COFISA) and obtain a summary of the 2008 Science, Technology and Innovation Scoreboard. 

ENDS

Issued by the Department of Science and Technology

For more information, please contact Johan Strauss at (021) 487-4603 or 082 523 4916 or email johan.strauss@dst.gov.za