reaching the latter part of their careers. This has resulted in limited succession planning in technology organisations and massive challenges in staffing key leadership positions in the same organisations. Our lack of planning and creating an integrated education process has significantly impacted our current ability to make a meaningful impact into most IT areas – without strategic partnering and sourcing with other countries.
Scoring for the Future: We have a lot of ground to cover – starting at the grassroots level and reaching far into the private and national government levels. The recent job creation commitments from the DoC created a stir – but thus far remain as the only real commitments made. We have to also mention that SITA’s use of the Integrated Financial Management Systems (IFMS) programme to attempt to stimulate both the SMME sector and the creation of local technology skills is commendable – but is still academic. Score of 2/10.
Made in the RSA – home-grown innovation We are often very critical of the constant flight of entrepreneurs and technology ideas to US shores. We are equally in awe at the mass of technology start-ups originating from India. This must beg
the question ... why not “Made in the RSA”? It is my opinion that the total lack of a venture capital market for technology innovation must be blamed for both the flight and resulting absence of home- grown innovation. We have the CSIR that makes a business of R&D but lacks in the ability to commercialise.
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has been created with this primary objective in mind. Let us not forget the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) that is mandated to seek and fund innovations that enhance service delivery. We definitely have several viable channels and mechanisms that can be used to enhance local innovation – but yet we lack them. We need more Shuttleworths to really put us on the map!
Scoring for the Future: There is definite merit in the structures that are in place. Even the IDC has a VC fund that can be used for local content-based technology start-ups. However, we should look to borrow from the Americans and Indians and promote the creation of a real VC “fund” for technology- specific innovation. This will have the immediate effect of stimulating new SMME development in the sector – which is the engine room of any economy - and we are lacking this. Score of 5/10.
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