The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is participating in this year's lnnova Summit, which takes place from 21 to 23 June. The summit is one of the largest in Latin America, bringing together innovation stakeholders, business and venture capital with the aim of creating solutions to the challenges facing the world today.
The DSI and other government departments are exhibiting some of their programmes and initiatives at the South Africa stand during the summit.
The Innova Summit attracts CEOs, directors and representatives of various government and business sectors, as well as young people and influential stakeholders.
The summit offers an opportunity for the public to follow, experience and learn about new technologies. With COVID-19 having accelerated the use of technology, the summit is a showcase of what innovations are available, and provides a glimpse of what future technology-driven work and living spaces will look like.
The DSI's Dr Cosmos Chiteme, Director: Power, is participating in panel discussions and presenting South Africa's progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on green hydrogen and its applications in sustainable long-distance shipping, logistics and other projects related to innovation.
The summit allows the Department to display its abilities in various sectors to an audience that targets entrepreneurs and companies that, through creative, innovative and sustainable initiatives and actions, promote social benefits and sustainable socio-economic development.
Dr Chiteme will also be promoting new business models between the entrepreneurial communities of Brazil and South Africa in the hydrogen economy, leveraging their BRICS relationship and the both countries' membership of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE).
Promoting South Africa's hydrogen ambitions at the global event has the potential to attract investments and partnerships to support the implementation of its Hydrogen Society Roadmap, which the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, launched the earlier this year. The roadmap articulates South Africa's ambitions to use hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to decarbonise key sectors of the economy, which include heavy transport and energy-intensive industrial processes such as oil refining, steel and fertiliser production.
The Innova Summit offers a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving and creates a platform where innovation interfaces with social dialogue, which is key to addressing just transition and social inclusion issues.
