This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
“We want to talk to innovators in South Africa. We want


to assist that process of innovation from early-stage research and development to the end product,” says Joseph. Now it is up to the innovators to set forward.


Michael Joseph


South Africa is, by and large, an extractive economy. In 2010, South Africa contributed 76% of the world’s platinum supply, the raw material which goes into the manufacture of jewellery (31%), industrial usage (22%), auto catalysts (39%) and investment purposes (8%). Unfortunately many of these applications take place outside South African borders, which is why companies like Anglo Platinum are becoming actively involved in seeking innovative, inter-disciplinary ways of co- operating with business and entrepreneurs to find new and exciting applications for platinum group metals (PGMs). The PGM Development Fund is just one concept, which will see R100 million committed over three years to workable innovations which seek to develop new applications for PGMs. Stumped for out-of-the-box uses? Well, ideas such as using ethylene scavengers (like palladium and rhodium) to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce is just one technology.


82 Management Today | April 2012


Already the Fund has committed to its first investment, into a fuel cell company. “Hopefully we will set up a plant in South Africa,” says Joseph, without giving away too much else. But the uptake to the industry’s call for applications in 2010 was poor and this, coupled with the careful selection process, is holding back the initiative. “We have looked at about four projects so far,” says Joseph. “We are very conservative and would be happy to have done four projects in three years. That said, we are not scared to throw money at something. But we want to be sure we are throwing it in the right place.”


The door, it seems, is open. “We want to


talk to innovators in South Africa. We want to assist that process of innovation from early- stage research and development to the end product,” says Joseph. Now it is up to the innovators to set forward.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103