make South Africa, business and individuals, more productive, sustainable and competitive.”
The Technology Council aims to establish an innovation bursary fund to provide potential graduates with opportunities to learn, develop and master the management of technology and innovation competencies required to deliver superior business results. “For a vast number of young people bursaries are the only hope they have of achieving their goals,” says Marcus.
“South Africa’s prospects for improved competitiveness, economic growth and in turn job creation relies, to a great degree, on technological innovation,” says Geoff Rothschild, Director: Government and International Affairs at the JSE and a Supporter of SA Innovation. “Vibrant capital markets play an essential part of innovation, allowing participants to raise capital, manage risk and mobilise savings.
“A platform is provided by the JSE for small to medium size businesses to list and raise capital. However, there is still a tremendous skills gap in the management of technology and innovation competencies which is why the JSE supports TT100 which promotes potentially talented entrepreneurs. Through various education initiatives the JSE strives to further develop a local culture of technological innovation.
“One thing is certain, it is time for Government and the private sector to collectively take our country to the next level,” says Rothschild.
DebTech is also a Supporter of SA Innovation. According to Domingos Valbom, General Manger at DebTech, “South Africa can only move forward when a drive is created towards innovative technology that can deliver growth to the country’s economy. From a company perspective, the innovation challenge facing DebTech, as we look to become a more outward focused organisation, is to harness our inherent creative capacity towards commercial success. We believe this initiative will put the spotlight on innovation and encourage people to participate at a corporate and individual level.”
28 EDGE | November 2011
Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Group Communications & Public Affairs for BMW South Africa points out that, “For the past 95 years, revolutionary innovations have shaped the history of BMW and the image of our cars. As a company driven by innovative technological solutions, the TT100’s commitment to developing innovation in South Africa – a country with a severe shortage of the types of innovators we need to run our business such as engineers and IT practitioners – is a cause which we support in our own Corporate Social Investment programmes.”
Eksom is another company which has recognised the value of innovation and which is proud Supporter of Innovation. Says Barry MacColl, Acting General Manager: Research, Test and Development for Eksom’s Group Technology Division, “Although the basic principles of delivering electrical energy is over 100 years old, Eskom is faced with an enormous range of challenges that are near term and have immediate and direct impacts on business operations. Supplying over 40% of the continent’s electricity, with over 40 000 employees and four million customers, Eskom is a complex and crucial business that provides the fuel for both South Africa and Africa’s growth and development. Eskom needs people from all over South Africa to provide innovative solutions and technology approaches that will improve reliability, reduce cost, save lives, and minimise the impact on the environment.”
MacColl maintains that being an ‘SA Supporter of Innovation’ will ensure the development, moulding and harnessing of bright minds with good ideas that can work with the power utility to find innovative solutions. “We are therefore delighted to be a part of it,” he says.
Louise van der Bank, Chief Information Officer for Afrisam is similarly positive about the initiative which is why Afrisam have signed up to be a ‘SA Supporter of Innovation’. “AfriSam believes in the principles that underpin the TT100 programme,” she says. “Over the years our drive for innovation, commitment to our people and investment in technology have ensured our sustained growth to become the leading construction materials group within southern Africa.”
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