Rome – South Africa’s growing status as a preferred international science and technology (s&t) investment destination was reaffirmed at an international information press conference, hosted by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome this morning. The conference marks the occasion of the Italian government’s official announcement of the establishment of the third component of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2007. This component is the first of its kind in Africa.

In his welcoming address South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, told conference delegates that “South Africa is extremely grateful to Professor Mousy and the Board of governors, the Committee of Scientific Advisors as well as the ICGEB member countries for bestowing upon South Africa the honour of hosting one of the three international Component Centres of the ICGEB.”

“I would also like to extend a particular word of thanks to the Government of Italy for their tremendous work in lobbying the international community to support the development of a 3^rd centre in Africa. It was as a result of Italy’s efforts, through its former Minister Moratti, that this became a discussion point in the G8 in as early as 2005 and eventually found its way into the Gleneagles Declaration” added Minister Hanekom.

There are currently only two ICGEB components in the world in laboratories in Trieste, Italy and in New Delhi, India. South Africa’s successful bid to host a third component will now see the establishment of this component at the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM) at the University of Cape Town. 

Established in 1987 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the ICGEB is an inter-governmental organisation that operates in close contact with the UN Common System as a centre of excellence for research and training in biotechnology and genetic engineering with special attention to the needs of the developing world.

Minister Hanekom said “The establishment of the component in Cape Town has support from the highest levels in the system. Our Italian colleagues will recall that this was a priority discussion on President Mbeki’s programme during his last State Visit. The government of South Africa, through its department of Science and Technology, has already set aside approximately 4 million Euros towards the start-up costs of the component. This is in line with the increases in public funding towards the establishment of high-tech research infrastructure in South Africa which is set to provide a fertile training ground for the creation of world-class African scientists and researchers.”   

The ICGEB places major emphasis on health related research as well as on projects towards the sustainable application of biotechnology in agriculture. The main focus is currently on HIV and AIDS, hepatitis, rotavirus, human papilloma virus, malaria, tuberculosis and more recently, dongue. The Centre’s research is expected to help scientists across the globe determine the mechanisms related to infections and the insurgence of diseases at the molecular level. This type of research is already leading to important breakthroughs in the understanding of these diseases and possibility to the identification of diagnostic and specific drugs, if not vaccines.

Establishing the third component at the IIDMM will boost South Africa’s existing efforts to combat the most serious threats to health and overall prosperity in the region, including infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS, TB and non-communicable diseases, as well as locally prevalent cancers and genetic disorders.

On the third component’s importance for the country, Minister Hanekom said that “this will boost South Africa's profile as the preferred destination for global science and technology initiatives and will assist in making South Africa a major international Biotechnology Hub. This provides a unique opportunity for finding further innovative solutions for some of the continent’s most pressing health and agricultural challenges.”

The benefits to accrue to the country as a result of hosting the component range from human capital development; the development of state-of- the art research facilities in the field of biotechnology; to the enhanced facilitation of collaboration with regional and international scientists.

South Africa submitted its bid to host the third component alongside Tanzania and Nigeria in May 2006. The South African bid was seen by other African and European Union (EU) states not only as a bid for South Africa, but as an African bid. 

“I would also like to extend a special note of gratitude to our African colleagues, especially our partner bidding countries Nigeria and Tanzania, for the incredible camaraderie and support once the selection was made. The African campaign was conducted in the true spirit of African brotherhood and sisterhood” said Minister Hanekom.

Issued by the Department of Science and Technology.

For more information, contact:

Kristin Klose, Director: Communication, Department of Science and Technology, Mobile: +27 (0) 82 902 9503, or email: kristin.klose@dst.gov.za